IG Warns Public About Fraudulent Phone Calls Threatening Arrest or Legal Action
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: December 7, 2018
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is urging citizens to remain vigilant of telephone impersonation schemes that exploit the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) reputation and authority.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continues to receive reports from across the country about fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from SSA. Recent reports have indicated that unknown callers are using increasingly threatening language in these calls. The callers state, due to improper or illegal activity with a citizen’s Social Security number (SSN) or account, a citizen will be arrested or face other legal action if they fail to call a provided phone number to address the issue. This is a scam; citizens should not engage with these calls or provide any personal information.
SSA employees do contact citizens, generally those who have ongoing business with SSA, by telephone for customer-service purposes. However, SSA employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.
“Unfortunately, scammers will try anything to mislead and harm innocent people, including scaring them into thinking that something is wrong with their Social Security account and they might be arrested,” Stone said. “I encourage everyone to remain watchful of these schemes and to alert family members and friends of their prevalence. We will continue to track these scams and warn citizens, so that they can stay several steps ahead of these thieves.”
The OIG recently warned that some of these impersonation calls have “spoofed” SSA’s national customer service phone number, displaying 1-800-772-1213 as the incoming number on caller ID.
The Acting Inspector General urges citizens to be extremely cautious, and to avoid providing 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. If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, you should report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
For more information, please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/scam-awareness. For media inquiries, please contact Andrew Cannarsa, OIG’s Communications Director, at (410) 965-2671.
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Debra G.
This is a voice mail left on my cell phone.
Just to inform you that there is a legal enforcement action has been filed on your social security number for fraudulent activity. So when you get this message speak to our office or or kindly call us back on our hotline number 951-842-5490. I repeat that is 951-842-5490 disregard this notice and return the call before we begin with the legal proceedings against you. Thank you.. Click here: 13608424027 to listen to full voice message.
V.V.
Hi Debra: Thanks for letting us know. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Gary R.
Here are the phone numbers of the scammers 425 448 2419 and 833 722 4389
V.V.
Hi Gary: Thanks for letting us know. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Teresa
I got a call from 201-523-5079 and they will actually answer if you call back, should be able to trace or track.
V.V.
Hi Teresa. Thanks for the information. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Leslie
I believe that I received a fraudulent call from a phone number in Texas ({8304889564) impersonating a SS Officer. He had an Indian accent and stated that there was problem with my SS number – there was fraudulant activity . When I asked him why his phone number was coming from Texas and not from the state I live in, he hung up quickly.
A.C.
Hi, Leslie. Unfortunately, there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our recent blog post:
Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Social Security
If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. Thanks, again!
michael l.
February 19, 2019 Tuesday
Have been receiving the same message from different sources. All state need to call so legal proceedings will not occur: This is a scam… am not answering and am ignoring.
Felt you would want the numbers. Same person…same message. different cities.
Hydes Maryland 410 983-6033
Coral Springs Fl 754 702-1044
Phoenix Arizona 600 513-7185 twice
Seattle Washington 206 316-2516 twice
A.C.
Thank you for checking in with us, Michael. Unfortunately, there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our recent blog post:
Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Social Security
If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. Thanks, again!
Eric
Hi Andrew,
You’re a communications director and are still double spacing after a period. Shame on you.
Best,
Eric
Mona
I have been receiving call from 1-800-451-7133 in last few weeks. They call, but leave message. I try not to pick up the calls, where I am not familiar with the number. Today, I picked up and it said my social security has been suspended as there were some suspicious activities and I should press 1 to resolve the matter. I hung up and tried to call your office (SSA official phone number), which I couldn’t connect – long wait, still not connected. I saw this blog and disconnected the phone.
This is concerning as I have had identity theft 10 yrs back and I always worry if I get any calls about any fraudulent activities on my accounts. I hope this would be taken care of and scammers are not able to make people victim so easily. Thanks.
A.C.
Thank you for checking in with us, Mona. Unfortunately, there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our recent blog post:
Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Social Security
If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. Thanks, again!
Gary B.
I received the same call today I just wanted to reach out to you my phone call said they were calling from Kentucky.
ANAMER G.
somebody calls me and left a message from social security office that my social security number was cancel due to fraud
sherri o.
just got 2nd call today with invalid number. I lied to them after I told them to quit calling I told them she was no longer alive. she is alive and well but I am getting tired of these calls. the number called from is 452-036-9750.
A.C.
Hi. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls or request your personal information. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
LUCAS
I believe I just got a call from one of these scammers.. it was a local 585 number but today is Saturday and yo my knowledge these places aren’t open on Saturdays. It was for a initial interview.. do they do interviews over the phone on saturdays