How You Can Help Social Security Protect Your Information
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast 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
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Lisa M.
I received 5 calls today from Washington State… Didn’t answer 1st 2 calls, finally answered 4th call & it was a computer generated call that stated exactly what you have on the video & to press 1, etc. I immediately hung up & then they tried a 5th time! Here are the times & phone #s from today (10-28-19)
10:54 am – (253) 853-9585
11:10 am – (253) 494-1980
11:46 am – (253) 963-8085
12:15 pm – (253) 869-9747 (this is the one I picked up)
12:47 pm – (253) 629-5941
Is there any way to make them stop?! SO annoying, especially when I am trying to run my business.
Luis A.
Hi Lisa. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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 online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Connie G.
I received a call from 855-285-6010 saying it was SSA and a hold had been places on my account due to fraudulent activity. I pressed 1 for more information. A man with a heavy India accent asked for my name and SS#. I told him since he had called me he should have that info. He asked for my info again and when I asked what country he was in he hung up. I called the above number and it said I had reached the Key West office of SSA. I hung up.
Luis A.
Hi Connie. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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 online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Kent K.
I just received a call on my cell phone similar to the one in the video above.
My caller ID indicated that the caller’s number was
512-780-0364.
FYI, I was the victim of identify theft in the summer where someone opened a fraudulent credit card in my name.
What can I do to prevent identity theft of my SSA account?
Thanks!
Luis A.
Hi Kent. Thank you for checking in with us. As the video stated, 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 online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams here. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission online 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), or call 1-877-322-8228. For more information, check out our publication titled, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number. We hope this helps.
John R.
Hello. My name is John William rodenborn. Last four of my social 0340. I received a call. They said they were from social security and that my social security has been suspended can you please confirm that for me thank you very much. My number is 714 469-7217. Again thank you
Ann C.
Thank you for checking in with us, John. Keep in mind that 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 online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Maureen K.
I received 6 calls from 210-741-4317 on October 22. 2019.
They said my Social Security Number has been compromised. I get these calls all the time I never answer
it just goes to voice mail.
Is there not a way to stop these calls?
Chris D.
Just received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Social Security stating that “they” had detected illegal activity using my Soc Sec number. Wanted me to hit the number 1 to hear more about it. I hung up on them. The phone number that showed on my caller ID was 1-281-458-0284. Unknown Name.
If this was not you, please let me know. Thanks.
Janet W.
Received a voicemail today 11/22/2019 at approximately 1:45 p.m. Arizona from the following phone number 360-839-2515 stating this was the Social Security Administration, that my Social Security Number had been suspended and an investigation was turned over the Federal Crime Investigation Dept. I needed to return the to the above listed phone number, which I won’t. I thought that you needed to be informed. Thank you.
Kathy
So far 3 calls in less than 24 hours. I don’t answer calls from numbers that I do not recognize. They left voice messages stating they were from law enforcement and that my social security number and benefits would be suspended. The numbers that called were:
800-985-1603
800-094-7197
800-270-2766
Two of the calls were only 45 minutes apart.
Ann C.
Hi, Kathy. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.
Steven L.
I got several calls telling me that my social security was being canceled and I would be prosecuted by Law Enforcement if I did not call their callback number at
(940) 283.0214.
Ann C.
Thanks for letting us know, Steven. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Christina L.
I missed a call today from 1-239-214-5699 but a voice mail was left. It was a computerized message stating that a Federal Claim has been filed against me from the Legal Department of the Social Security Administration and that I should press one before someone is sent to arrest me. I know these calls are scams but I also know a lot of people who would freak out if they got this call. Thank you for providing information for the public.
Luis A.
Hi Christina. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. Even though we may, at times, call beneficiaries, 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 online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.