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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Ron B.
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Donna L.
I have been receiving harassing phone calls regarding my social security account and they are getting unbearable.
I received a call today basically telling me to call the number they left on voice mail…telling me if the case would be filled and I would be arrested and this would filed in Federal Court. The phone #850-628-8781.
Please advise which avenue I should take with this, it is
taking a toll on me. Thank you for your response. Have a blessed evening.
Luis A.
Hi Donna. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Sonja K.
Getting repeated automated calls “due to suspicious activity with your ss number, you ss benefits will be suspended until you contact _______. If you do not respond, your benefit will be permanently ended.”
Luis A.
Hi Sonja. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Al
Received recorded calls from Dept. of Social Security Administration on 10/31 and 11/1 claiming a legal enforcement action aginst my number for fraudulent activities and to kindly call back. Number they called from and asked me to call back is 830-715-0548 out of La Coste,Tx….beware peeps!!!
Ann C.
Thanks for letting us know, Al. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Marlene
I have had 5 telephone calls in the last 3 days … I never answer a number that I don’t know so they leave me a voice message saying that my Social Security will be revoked if I don’t call back. I have blocked the numbers and deleted the messages but this is getting a bit ridiculous. Isn’t there anything that I can do?
Elizabeth P.
I just received a pre-recorded message from Ellicott City, Maryland, 410-505-8459, the message indicated that my Social Security number had been comprised and that before actions could be taken against me I would need to speak to a representative. I pressed one and waited to speak to the representative, who answered the phone, Social Security Administration, How can I help you? I told him I received a call at which point he asked me for my name and social security number. I told him.. “You should know, you called me”.
Luis A.
Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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.
Russell J.
Just received a scam from a fake source that claimed to freeze my SS number.
He called and requested my SS#
I told him to screw off.
Ph # is in Austin 512-463-1551
Please investigate and slam these clowns out of business.
Thank you
Ann C.
Thank you for letting us know, Russell. 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.
RONALD I.
FYI – I have received a number of (computerized) calls (all hitting voice mail) trying to have me call back to 201-345-4118.
Luis A.
Hi Ronald. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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.
Sharnay M.
I just received a call like this the number is from TEXAS… the number is 469-208-6639… when looked up its a landline number. They left me a voicemail threatened to have an arrest warrant issued “in my name” if i don’t call back with my SSN.
Ann C.
Hi, Sharnay. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.
Cheryl b.
got a call today at work from a so called social security saying there fraudulent activity on (they recording said, “your social security number”) So no name gave on recording, but they left the number 917-463-0602
Ann C.
Thanks for letting us know, Cheryl. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.