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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Ronald H.
scam call from 1 610-456-1038 claiming I will be arrested due to fraud on my SS card number
L.A.
Hi Ronald. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Karen P.
My cell phone has received two calls from an unknown scammer stating the call is from the Social Security Administration and that my social security number was suspended. I want to report this phone number, 18000693811, please help get this phone number reported as a scam call. Thank you.
L.A.
Hi Karen. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Louise A.
Hi my name is Louise Ahmed I received a call about my social. I went ahead and pushed 1 to talk with them. The women answered and I told them to take me off their calling list. She responded are you going to send me to jail if I don’t as well as googled my phone number. So I asked for her address and name:
Linda Lewis
506 grand Smith Rd
Clinton oaklahoma
This is what showed on my CI.
+1 516-874-6780
A.C.
Hi, Louise. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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.
Frank S.
On the 9th of Sept., 2019, I received a call on my home phone, (904) 527-1934. The caller was indicating that they were investigating fraudulent activity with my SSA. I need to call them at this phone, SARANAC LAKE NY, (518) 323-9059. They also claim that they have issued an arrest warrant for me and to call them back…
A.C.
Hi, Frank. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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.
Jayne C.
Just received moments ago a scam call from someone claiming to be Social Security Admin. “Final Notice” something inrgards to error with my account. Did not pick up phone. Just listened as message was left. The number on the caller ID was 214-586-0686.
A.C.
Hi, Jayne. Thanks for letting us know. Keep in mind we do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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.
Judith C.
I got a call from 315-995-4731. It was a machine telling me that it was OIG and that this was my final warning my SS# has been suspended. Contact us now. They have no number of name. I don’t answer the phone unless I know the number and most don’t leave messages, but this is the second call I got about this and the second number used, I checked the first and it was listed as a scam number.
L.A.
Hi Judith. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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.
Carla S.
Received a call from 915-208-4705 regarding a problem with my social security from a person claiming to be a law-enforcement officer. I called the number back and a man, with an Indian accent, said he was Jason Brown, badge number 76684. I thanked him and hung up.
Is there a way to report this number to someone to investigate the fraudulent activity?
L.A.
Hi Carla. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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.
Sidney
Phone social security scam number is 1-888-239-1343
barbara c.
Ive gotten acall from a person did speak an accent but he gave aname and Id number I do not live in missouri or have an address their
M0468590
ID 409936
Name Jack Rosen
I was suppose to have a car that was on the side of road with blood in that a car that good one but also here is the phone 18663993287
Grant H.
I have had two phone calls today (11:46 AM CST and 2:41 PM CST) that claim they (automated voice) are officer Amanda Mendez with the Social Security Administration Office and that my Social Security number was involved in something with the south Texas border. Press 1 to talk to the officer. If you press nothing it hangs up. On the second call I pressed one and a live person identified herself as the Social Security Administration Office and asked how she could help. I told her, I don’t know, that she called me. She immediately hung up. Just want to put out the warning.
L.A.
Hi Grant. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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.