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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Margaret N.
I got a call from the social security administration’s office and the recorded message was from an officer Marie Gomez. The no was 7152047668 and it said that my ss no was suspended and a warrant for my arrest was issued. Said I needed to get in contact with them. When I called some guy named Jack Lawson an officer told me.that someone had rented a car under my.name and they found blood in it and.that I was.laundering money as well. Said they was gonna freeze my.bank.acct and the police would be at my door next morning. Of course no police but it was scary.listenig to this person say things like that. I get that recording from all different numbers. Anything I can do to stop this or report this?
Harley
518 286 5098 was the number used to claim my SS was under legal actions and I should return their call before legal actions take place. Knew was some firm of scam. Thanks.
Ann C.
Thanks, Harley. 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks again for helping us fight fraud.
Delilah
I just received one of these calls. It was a pre-recorded message that said it was from Soc.Sec. for fraudulent activity & a warrent for my arrest has been issued!!
I laughed & if course didn’t answer because I knew immediately that this was some con artist hoping I’d be gullible enough to fall for the scam.
Shame on them! I wish there was some way to catch these creeps.
I can’t stand a thief & unfortunately some people do fall for their con game & lose lots of money.
Paulua A.
received call from two different numbers before 12 CST today 9/27/2019,
1 209 488 2472
1 512 668 9453
Luis A.
Hi Paula. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Paula M.
But when I asked for his number so my husband could call him back he hung up. Lol
352-579-1359. T.
Hello I keep getting threatening phone calls from officer David works WALKS. I he asked for my social number and I said, give me your phone number and I’ll have my husband call you back…HE HUNG UP!!!
352-579-1359. T.
Hello I keep getting threatening phone calls from officer David works WALKS and the phone number they leave is 1-352-579-1359. Or 3364154175. 410-863-2636. 352-579-1359. These are just some of the phone numbers they call me from telling me they’re going to take my card and have me arrested.
Ann C.
Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Karl-Heinz Z.
I just got a call from a Stephen Smith, who said he is a social security officer and his badge number is: 2104581022 and there are over 20 bank accounts in Texas under my name associated with money laundering with over 1 Million Dollars and there is a search arrest warrant in my name. He wanted to know how many bank accounts I have here and how much money is on the accounts. When I told him I have to call my director of my office and he should give me a phone number to call him back, I was disconnected. I tried to call back the 1-800 498-9640 number that was shown on my phone I got the message, there is no such number.
Luis A.
Hi Karl. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Debbie
I have received 2 calls on my cellphone warning that Legal actions are being taken against me regarding my Social Security and to call the number back immediately. the number they are leaving is 360-639-7356. it always just a recorded message but maybe having the number will help you track them. I immediately checked my SS message center and account. Thank you.
Luis A.
Hi Debbie. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Darcy T.
When calling the phone number provided to report fraudulent phone call, no option is provided to press a number to report a fraudulent phone call. It is not likely that most people will go through the frustration of attempting to be connected to a rep to report this.
If SSA is truly concerned about stopping this fraud, the reporting procedure s/b streamlined.
Fraudulent call warning of arrest from 574-966-5629