Frauds & Scams

How You Can Help Social Security Protect Your Information

March 21, 2019 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: March 21, 2019

Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission. You work hard and make a conscious effort to save and plan for retirement. Unfortunately, fraud and scams are a part of our current reality. Scammers try to stay a step ahead of us, but our cyber-security programs help us protect the information entrusted to us. Despite the techniques we use to thwart scams, we can’t do it alone. You can read Social Security’s joint press release with the Office of Inspector General about our new nationwide Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign. This new PSA campaign addresses these telephone impersonation schemes in a series of video and audio ads. Watch the video above and learn how you can help us protect your information.

Also, earlier this month, we teamed up with the Federal Trade Commission for a Facebook Live event to discuss more consumer protection tips. If you missed this very important session, you can find it on our Facebook page.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. Tom S.

    Today 07/26/2019 I received a robocall from 206-693-4175 telling me to call this # due to an overpayment of my SSA I hung up and reply here. I live in zip code 29127

  2. Frank

    I am receiving multiple recorded calls, stating that I have an arrest warrant out for me for social security fraud and unless I call back at 1-410-237-7983 and resolve this problem I will be arrested and legal action will be brought against me. I do not call back.

  3. Lili P.

    I received a call from 868-525-2922 (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago). I did not answer but message on my voicemail said call was from Department of SSA and reason for call was that they just found some suspicious activity and suspended my SS#. If I want to know more about case to press #1.

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Lili. 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.

  4. Thomas a.

    We received a call from 206-567-9331 (Vashon, WA), stating that our SS number had been compromised. We just hung up. If there is anything else to do, please let us know. We tried to go to the http://www.identytheft.gov/SSA site, but it said it was unavailable.

    • Jenna Y.

      Hi Thomas. 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. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). We hope this helps.

  5. Faisal S.

    I’ve received today from “SSA” claiming my SSN has been suspended due to fraudulent activity in New York.
    The number was +16469693804.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Faisal. 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. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). In addition, you can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union). To order your credit report go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. For more information, check out our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number. We hope this helps.

  6. Daniel D.

    Here are some more numbers..
    8001490207,18001658417,18001365102, 18001937055, 180017884790Just in the last 2 hours!!

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Daniel. 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.

  7. Stevewgo

    Suspicious activity and lawsuits against social security number, plus suspended.
    3 calls today,
    815-257-5594 12:23pm, Then 888-476-741 at 1:51 pm with last number missing and 2 voice mails. The at 3:39 pm with unknown caller and left voicemail. I was able to block the first two but not the 3rd.

    Same recording from Social Security Video on YouTube.
    Blocked on IPhone

    • Ann 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.

  8. Maribyl T.

    I just got a call in my cell phone that my social security
    number has ben suspended. New York #
    646-808-3005.
    Thank You.

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Maribyl. 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.

      • david

        My husband gets at least 5-8 calls a day from 817-252-4028 stating the same thing “Your s.s. number has been in suspicious activities…..” How can he stop getting these calls??

  9. Stephanie V.

    I received a social security scam call from phone number: (254) 653-6459.

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Stephanie. 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.

  10. Janice L.

    I have received 6 calls today from a spam caller about removing my number from the rolls. Phone numbers include:
    Unknown
    1 (1)800078228?
    1800 269 0271. -your office number twice
    1800 570 937?
    1800 831. 648?

    I have not answered the phone call and hung up as directed. This is really scaring me

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Janice. 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.

Comments are closed.