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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Tamara W.
I received a robo call from Unknown, saying that I was in legal trouble with the SSA, and it gave me a number to call back. I did not call back. It’s always easier to go to the correct website or call the correct number, and check, if you are concerned.
L.A.
Thanks for letting us know, Tamara.. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General 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.
Annetta G.
I have tried to report the calls from people threatening arrest, etc.and couldn’t get past the “automated answering male voice”, because the # provided to report scam calls doesn’t seem to be correct. Anyway, whomever is making these calls has really stepped up their game. I get several a week and if there was really a place to report the number, perhaps they could be stopped. The 2 numbers this week: 972-430-5138 and 362-579-9987. They leave a voicemail in their threatening foreign accent. I just feel badly for someone who might fall for this scam.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Annetta. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General 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.
Pamela
I received a call from 7862506512 stating that I must call them back immediately to avoid legal action against my social security or something like that. DON’T CALL THEM BACK !! I searched instead and found that it is a scam.
rita M.
I have received calls this morning from 201-426-7968 claiming they are Social Security trying to tell me they are about to file legal action against me and ordering me to return their phone call – number above. T
A.C.
Hi, Rita. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General 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.
Julie H.
724 903-7544
724 794-5616
208-291-5938
724-528-5632
254-994-2008
All scammers claiming there is a warrant out for my arrest due to a suspended social security. Please help it’s several times a day now
L.A.
Hi Julie. 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 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.
Terrie R.
Received a call from 800-568-8109 a recorded message saying my SS number was being suspended because of fraudulent activity. It went on to say that I needed to talk to them immediately and to press 1. Like an idiot I pressed 1 but was then hung up on. I called the number back and it was a place to order a medical alert necklace. Again a recording. I hung up. Anyway, I am trying to talk to someone with no luck. Should I be concerned? I put that number on auto reject.
L.A.
Hi Terrie. 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 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.
Susan P.
How do you find out if someone is using your social security number I keep getting calls from different states saying my social security number has been used in fraudulently and they are filling charges. I called to find out if my number was connected to another name but they would not tell me.
A.C.
Hi, Susan. 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 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.
Vince S.
Got a call stating the Social Security Office will come after me with legal action and possible arrest. The number is 510-364-6413.
L.A.
Hi Vince. 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 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.
Edward
I received a fraud robocall a few minutes ago threatening me with legal action if I did not call the Social Security Administration back at the same number that was on my caller ID.
I was born; but not yesterday.
I reported the call details on the OIG website.
My thanks and appreciation goes out to all the good, honest, hardworking employees of this department that are working hard to keep us all safe. Thank you.
A.C.
Hi, Edward. Thanks for your feedback! We value your opinion of us and look forward to many more years of serving you in the future. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.
Linda K.
I have been on three different SSA phone sites to report a call I received threatening that fraudulent activities are being seen using my SSN.I am appalled as an American citizen that I cant speak to a person. This is very disturbing. I would appreciate someone who really is from the SSA to contact me regarding this call. I have already been involved in identity theft back in 2008 and it is no fun. I am concerned about this again.