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. Rick

    Got a call from (888) 810-0219. They left a message stating that my SS number had been “compromised”. I didn’t fall for it, but annoying as hell.

  2. Olga O.

    I have received Craig phone call from number 424-269-4567 which went to my voice mail stating that there is fraudulent actvity with my social security number. As I called back the number the person impersonated ssn employee. I quickly figured out by background noise and the way person spoke that this was fraud and hung up. I did not give my phone name or social security number. Is my social security number is still in danger?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Olga. Thanks for checking in with us. Keep in mind 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  3. Linda T.

    I received a call to my cell phone this morning at around 11 AM. Could not answer phone. When I checked my phone about a half hour later, there was a message from 1-801-772-1213 from American Fork, UT. The message stated “This call is from the legal department of the Social Security Administration. This is to inform you that your Social Security number has been suspended because we found some suspicious activity running under you Social Security number to know more about this case please press 1 now”
    This sounded very fishy to me, so I did not return call. Came home and looked up Social Security Administration web site, which got me to this page. Sorry to hear that so many people are experiencing this kind of crap. And so many just give out the information requested, thinking that they are talking to the Social Security office. Sad

  4. Cindy

    Received two calls from Compton CA (310) 627 1341 and they left a message that they were SSA and my SSN was involved in illegal activities and my SSN would be suspended unless I called the SSN office in Dallas TX at 310-627-1341. Hmmm… that doesn’t sound like a TX area code! Just thinking .. if my SSN is suspended, does that mean they can’t take taxes out of my paycheck? 🙂

  5. Debbie

    Calling the 1-800-269-0271 number just takes you through a pre-recorded prompt and I could not get through to report.
    I received three call today on my cell phone from three different numbers listed in New York saying my SS# has been suspended for suspicious activity. The numbers are 914-595-1394, 914-593-3489, and 914-596-7131.

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Debbie. Suspicious calls can also be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  6. Dawn

    I just received 2 calls claiming to be officers from the Investigation team for the SS Administration, from the suspicious and fraud dept. They told me that my name and SS have been in a connection with a drug bust in south texas and my identity has been stolen, they said they needed me to go “right now” to my bank and withdraw out the $ out of my checking and savings account (while I stay on the line with them) and not to leave my house before noon tomorrow and that they was going to issue me a NEW SS CARD WITH A NEW #, keep in mind I have had this # 49 years… they said they would replace everything that had to do with my old # with my new #, I was transferred to 3 different men whom I could barely understand but all with “American names”, they was asking amounts in my account and where did I bank, one call came from Texas, 214-785-2153 then the other came from NY 315-524-0364, they all gave me their “supposed name and ID #” and my case #. I hung up on them… they almost had me convinced!!! THIS IS A SCAM!!! And I think they work with people on the inside of the banks, that way when we go down to withdraw our $ they need to talk to someone on that end and I think they are in connection. Why can’t people LEAVE US ALONE AND STOP SCAMMING!??!?!?!!? Infuriating!!!!

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Dawn. Thanks for checking in with us. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  7. Beazer

    I just received a call from 802-154-5645 saying that my social security number has been suspended due to fraudulent activity. I will be blocking this number on my phone.

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Beazer. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  8. Phyllis J.

    On March 28, 2019 I received a voice message on my cell phone from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. I didn’t pick up the call, but the caller left a call-back number of (629) 230-1773. I checked on the reverse call look up and found the number to be from a land line in Nashville, TN. Be aware!

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Phyllis. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  9. Priscilla K.

    I received a call from 1-956-377-1621, Donna TX
    today about 12:30 pm, stating my ss# had been suspended for criminal activity. She asked me to verify my number, and when I said I wouldnt do that, she hung up.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Pricilla. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.

  10. Marta E.

    I just received this voice message and the caller ID was Matt Millington. This is the second one I have received. However, I am well aware these are scams.
    Voicemail from (469) 345-0011

    “From the department of social security administration. The reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that we just suspend your social security number because we found some suspicious activity. So if you want to know about this case just press one thank you.”

    • Ann C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Marta. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.

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