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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Gee
The SSA should press charges against such criminals.
Mary G.
receiver call from 281-299-0232 Alvon Texas saying there was a fraud report on my card and wanted me to call the above numbet
Duanna U.
We were scammed on both our landlines–2 different numbers used by scammers–888-748-2018 was 888-253-5629. The robo call said they were bringing legal action against our SS account–and to press 1 to speak to someone. Disgraceful!
Nancy D.
We received a call a couple days ago something about our SS #’s and said to call SS about this. I’m thinking and hoping it’s a fraudulent call. I can’t seem to get through to any numbers I’ve tried calling just a recorded menu or an hour wait. Thank-you for any info. on this.
Diane K.
I received a call with an automated voice saying, “308205 the reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that there’s a legal enforcement action filed on your Social Security number for fraudulent activity so before this matter goes to the state ___________ and before you get arrested if you need any information or have any question kindly call us back at 646-630-8205 thank you…”. Thank you.
Jack m.
I received a call from this# stating it was Social security(1-210-899-8201. An operator began to tell me I am about to lose my SSI benefits. I could hear the (boiler room) of a tremendous amount of talking and phones ringing.I immediately confronted he with these facts she hung up while i was talking and they hung up again when i salled back. I dont give up easy i called back and they blocked my number
Deborah
Thank you! I received a call from 323 530 1567 threatening with a warrant of arrest and incarceration. The first thing I did after hanging up on the recorded message was go to SS web site. Thank you again!
A.C.
Thanks for your feedback, Deborah! Your thoughts are important to us and we’re pleased when feedback is positive. We try hard to provide the best possible service to our customers and your satisfaction is our reward.
GM
Today 4/01/19 received 2 calls from 207-952-6055 (Maine area code) claiming to be SS threatening “to suspend my benefits” if I did not call back. One call was at 11:39a and the other 2:30pm the same day. I tried to report these calls but you make it extremely difficult to do so. I can’t imagine an elder trying to report these types of calls. I called and tried to report it at the website but I kept getting different website addresses or phone numbers. How can you track the fraudulent calls to senior citizens if the reports can’t be filed?
Ita S.
Got voice mail today 3-27-19. Have received same message before. Speaker is a female robot voice from 9286085630 in Page, Arizona: “…inform you that a legal enforcement action has been filed on your social security number for fraudulent activity so when you get this message speak to our officer on our hotline number at 9286085630 I repeat 9286085630.”
Is there any other place to report this message. I got it this morning. But I have received same message in the past.
A.C.
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.
Alex M.
I recieved a call and have a voicemail from someone saying they’re from SSA threating jail time. The message says to press 1 to connect me to an agent. I have the voicemail if someone from SSA would like to hear it.
V.V.
Hi Alex. Thank you for checking in with us. 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. You can report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.