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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Chuck E.
phone number 1-800-715-8513 says that they are Social Security Deputy Officers and I am going to jail. I told them COME GET ME!!!!! they have changed the number 3 times each has same recorded message that says your SSI account is lock due to fraudulent activity call 1-800-715-8513 to speak to the agent in charge of your case before you are arrested, do not disregard this call
L.A.
Hi Chuck. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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 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.
Thomas H.
“____________ you from the legal department of social security _________________________ ________ being number is as a saint 9165 purpose of this call is regarding enforcement action which has been executed by the US treasury right against your name ignoring this would be an intentional attempt to avoid and I _________________ is before the magistrate judge or exam jury for a federal criminal offense so before this matter goes to bed I will claims court house or you got arrested kindly call us back on our number 810-277-3715 I repeat it’s 810-277-3715…”
L.A.
Hi Thomas. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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 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.
Candice
My boyfriend received a automated viocemail stating that he needed to call them back asap. That someone has been using his SSI number to open several bank account across the country and that that said person was arrested with pound of cocaine in there person. And that if he didn’t give them information that the sheriff’s office will come out and are set him. He doesn’t even have a bank account anywhere. This is crazy
A.C.
Hi, Candice. 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.
Dr. L.
I received an answering machine message saying, ‘my social security number is involved in criminal activity.’ ‘I was told to call : 210-361-5883, before criminal proceedings begin.’ This is a scam and I will NOT call the number. Please check into this scam.
Tony v.
I just received a threatening phone call from a phone number in Manitoba, Canada: 204-033-5560. They told me that my social security number was suspended. And I filed them in my phone directory in the category “gangster”.
Mary J.
I have received several recorded calls that say Social Security has been contacted by the Federal Crime and Investigation Department to suspend my social security number. they say I should call 620-213-8143.
I haven’t made any calls. Is there any validity to these calls or just an attempt to get information from me.
V.V.
Hi Mary Joyce. Thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our most recent blog post:
Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number
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.
Micky B.
At around noon on April 29 a message was left on my home phone saying exactly what you have stated. Except the mans voice said to call my case investigator or there would be a warrant for my arrest. I was told to call this number, 410-514-9303 and the caller ID number is the 1-800- 269-0271.
Franklin C.
2nd call Ssf ca 94080 left callback 443-572-4499
kevin u.
Phone number 888-810-0342 is constantly calling my cell phone to tell me my social security number is suspended I have no tried to call or answer this number please let me know what is going on
Thanks
V.V.
Hi Kevin. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our most recent blog post:
Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number
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.
Bruce
I got a call this morning from a San Diego number 619-245-4623, robocall stating it was SS calling about fraudulent activity with my SS# and that I needed to call that number back. If it’s legit (doubt it) I’ll wait for a letter to come in the mail and then visit my local office
A.C.
Hi, Bruce. Thanks for letting us know. 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. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.