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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Bill C.
Received message on my phone saying that I would be referred for a federal criminal prosecution if I did not immediately call (916) 250-1404 and speak to a federal agent who would give me my case number.
Call received 3:39 pm CDST on May 22, 2018.
William C.
I received a call supposedly from the Federal Crime Investigation Dept regarding my social security number and was told to call: 213-613-9117. Nedless to say I did not.
Virginia M.
The last 2 days I have received a phone call that my SS# would be black listed.
This is the number 214-613-9117
Phil
I received a call from 469-616-3004 today and they mentioned that I had a problem with my social security number and to call this number back.
Ray F.
SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employees may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA, 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks!
L. H.
Phone scam, Claims to be Victor Frank with the Social Security Fraud department. There is a claim with my Social Security number please call 210-607-7809.
Ray F.
SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employees may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA, 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks!
Judy F.
I keep receiving calls that I am being sued .. We receive calls from this # threatening a law suite 475-689-4662I don’t owe anything other than normal bills. What can I do other than ignore
Daiv
Block the number from calling you again.
Jean C.
I have been on the telephone waiting for two hours so far to speak to someone at social security on the telephone. I was online for two hours yesterday at the social security online site trying to apply for benefits. I couldn’t complete the application because when I entered the routing number of my bank account, the online application wouldn’t allow me to enter the entire number. So, I kept getting an error message on the routing number. I tried over and over to enter the entire number–no luck. Finally, I was told I would be disconnected but was given a number to reenter my application the next day. Today (the next day) the site would not accept my re-entry number. So, now I’m calling Social Security by telephone. I think it’s ironic that every few minutes I get a message from social security that they are sorry for the delay but that I can always apply online.
This really sucks. I am an old lady who has been paying into social security and am still paying into social security because I work and cannot support myself on my pension. I am certainly not a technological expert, but I can fill out an online application if only the application will allow me enough digits to fill in my bank router number.
Thanks for nothing.
Bernard H.
I have received a letter asking me to call Ms. Hall at 866-964-7317 Ext. 29228 before March 14, 2018, about my “online application.”
Is this a legitimate Social Security person and number?
I have not filed any online application.
Ray F.
Thank you for your question, Bernard. This appears to be a legit SSA number. We have referred your inquiry to our Operations Staff for follow up, if necessary.
Just a reminder – If a person has questions about any communication —email, letter, text or phone call— that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call our toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks!
Jean C.
I am still on the telephone waiting to talk with someone from this number.
Carl
Ray, is there a non-Toll-Free number as well? The 800 number doesn’t work when traveling outside the US.
Dana P.
Have been receiving scam phone coals from various phone #s in Coal City IL – each time it is a women with a very friendly voice saying she is with Social Security Admin, each time I block the number but another number from Coal City calls the following day – these are a few. 815-709-0841, 0823, 0790, 0812
Ray F.
Hi Dana, SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employees may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person has questions about any communication: email, letter, text or phone calls from someone who claims to be from SSA, 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks.
Xavier M.
434-288-0113 has been calling my elderly mother with this social security scam. They claim her benefits will be frozen and to call the above number for a paralegal to help her for a fee to get out of trouble with Social Security Administration.
Ray F.
Thank you for your comment, Xavier. SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employees may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA, 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).