Inspector General Warns Public about Phone Calls from OIG “Imposters”
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about a nationwide telephone “imposter phishing” scheme. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received several reports from citizens across the country about persons receiving phone calls from individuals posing as OIG investigators. The caller indicates an issue exists pertaining to the person’s Social Security account or Social Security number (SSN) and directs the person call a non-SSA telephone number to address the issue.
The reports indicate the calls include a recording from a caller stating she is “Nancy Jones,” an “officer with the Inspector General of Social Security.” The recording goes on to say the person’s Social Security account, SSN, and/or benefits are suspended, and that he or she should call 806-680-2373 to resolve the issue. Citizens should be aware that the scheme’s details may vary; however, citizens should avoid calling the number provided, as the unknown caller might attempt to acquire personal information.
OIG investigators occasionally contact citizens by telephone for investigative purposes, but they will not request sensitive personal information from a citizen over the phone. If a person receives a similar suspicious call from someone alleging to be from the OIG, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Acting Inspector General Stone said, “This phishing scheme is targeting unsuspecting persons for the purpose of Social Security benefit theft or identity theft.” She warns citizens to be cautious, and to avoid providing personal information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it. “You must be very confident that the source is the correct business party, and that your information will be secure after you release it,” Stone said.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)
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Tags: Office of the Inspector General, OIG, SSN
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Elisabeth
This just happened to me. They didn’t get far. They tried to tell me their name was Officer Kelvin Smith (KC1137), they claimed they were calling from the TTY number and they called from 804-207-4959. They were pretty hostile when I said they were frauds.
A.C.
Hi, Elizabeth. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks for helping us fight fraud.
J. M.
Beware Social security phone scam–from number 510.112.7904
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.
Eddy A.
Just recieved a call from 1-805-637-7243, which my phone correctly determined to be a “Scam Likely.”
A robotic female voice left a message saying my social security number was being suspended (for something that the recording didn’t catch) and thus any of my benefits would be canceled and my social would be lost permanently.
Pressing 1 would connect me to a “Social Security Administration officer.”
Obviously this is nonsense, but I hope no one else ever feels this has any truth to it, particularly the elderly.
A.C.
Hi, Eddy. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks for helping us fight fraud.
Margaret B.
Social security scam saying my Social Security has been suspended because it has been compromised. The phone number is area code 51001127901 they are calling repeatedly and leaving voice message that prints out
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Margaret. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.
Naomi B.
Robotic voice mail claimed to be Officer Lisa Williams from s.s. admin. Threatened to suspend my s.s. number. What a moron! Call came from 410-670-5051. I knew it was b.s. This is to help those who may not.
Gary P.
Received a phone scam regarding my Social Security Number Account.
Phone number that started the call is:
833-776-4777
Carol O.
I just received a phone call on my cell phone claiming they were from Social Security and claiming that there was a claim against my benefits and I was told to call them back at 425-448-3987 in Washington State. Knowing that if there was a problem I would have been contacted by mail first I did not call them back.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Carol. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.
Kent S.
Scam call from 615 6579005 from Ashland City TN
3:48 PM Pacific Time Regarding SS account
I blocked the caller from further calls.
Hope you get him
Thank you
BB
The following numbers have called repeatedly as a social security scam:
1877 814-6302
1877 171-7538
1877 989-6753
1877 062-5330
1877 239-7242
1877 112-7872
Their ploy is your social security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity and you are then prompted for personal information.
A.C.
Hi. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.
michael d.
I received a call on my cell phone stating that my Social Security info has been compromised and my number had been suspended. The call asked for me to press the number #1 on my phone. Which I did not do. How can I make sure my SS# has not been suspended?
A.C.
Hi, Michael. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.