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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stephen j.
I’ve had several calls from the following#’s informing me that my ssn has been suspended and to press “1” for further information:
1 866-158-0369
1 866 731-8631
1 866 426-7712
is this legit or scam?
Mark H.
Can a police officer demand a payment from you by threating to go thru your social security number?
Ann C.
Hi, Mark. You can check with your local law enforcement. 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks.
Amy
This type of call came to me from 18332997627
Carol B.
206-465-1872 (Eric Scheider) on business caller ID
stated it was Social Security Department and they were pressing charges for illegal use on my account
Luis A.
Hi Carol. 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.
Michele F.
I just got one. It was very obvious. He said a group of men was pulled over at the border in Texas and they had ALOT of illegal drugs in the car. And all the paperwork they had like the title and registration to the car was in my name and social security number. That’s was the 10th clue. Since when do those papers have your SS# on them? My first clue was he answered the phone right away, no hold music or a recording of your options. Second was he said his name was John Wilson. He had a very thick middle eastern accent. Third was he seemed to already know who I was. Obviously, he wasn’t looking anything up in a computer. And a lot of other clues like how aggressive he got when I started questioning him. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. By the end of the call he was yelling “your going to be in trouble!! I’m filling out the arrest warrant right now!!” I just said for him to enjoy the rest of his night.
Joanna Z.
I’ve been receiving calls from different numbers saying they’re from the social security office. That I have a warrant for my arrest. Im not sure if they are serious or not. It’s really scary .
Ed P.
On July 23, 2019at 3:21 pm a man left a voicemail message on my home phone. He stated my SSN had been suspended and to press 1 to talk to an agent. The number was from the SS office in Arizona. I live in Virginia. The number is 866 964-7417. He left no name or any other information. Sounds like a scam. Please be advised.
Amy
There is a new number these people are calling from about the social security number scam which is 608-987-8667 from Mineral PT,WI I have had a call from them twice it was left on my voice message both times one was today.
Ruth M.
Is Officer Andrew Ball, Badge Number 66A25018 With the U.S. Treasury Department in El Paso, Texas?
David T.
I’ve received four calls recorded two from the same 886 887 8997 , the other two were from private numbers stating legal threats from fraudulent activity and my social security number will be suspended