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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Dee S.
I have received several calls from (240) 779-7860 stating the following “this is to inform you that SS Department is filing a lawsuit against you and arrest warrant has been released on your name due to legal enforcement action is being filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities. I just ignored the calls. Then I looked on your website. I am going to answer next time and give them a a hard time.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Dee. 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.
Cynthia n.
I had a call saying they were from social security name evan smith id #971583 said my case # was DMC701 AND MY SSC # WAS FROZEN DUE TO SUSPICIPUS ACTIVITY CONNECTED TO 2 ADRESSES IN EL PASO TX SAID THAT THE US MARSHALL HAS A WARRANT FOR MY ARREST DUE TO BANK FRAUD AND DRUG MANUFACTURING, GAVE ME A WARRANT # 47MLS215 HE KNEW LAST 4 DIFITS OF MY SSC #
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Cynthia. 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.
Thurman J.
10/15/2020, 1608, I received the same call about “legal enforcement against you” due to whatever illegal action was attached to my SSN. The call came from (425) 523-8461.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Thurman. 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.
Amilcar d.
I just got a fhone call from # 617-733-7830, from Social security Administration, because my ss# had problems e to answer is questions. I hang up. This is a report. My name is Amilcar DaSilva- 99 Puritan rd- Somerville Ma-02145. SS# last four (1956). Thank you.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Amilcar. 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.
C P.
I have also been receiving these phone calls and voicemail.
Rose M.
My name is Rose Sanders and I receive a phone call from someone saying they were Rajive Mathur he gave me his ID# and phone number. He says that there is a warrant for my arrest for the state of Texas ,that my social security has been used for money laundry and drug traffic, renting an apartment and a car rental and that my Social Security is being suspended , also a new S/S card will be mailed to me by Fed Ex . The things he said is it true? How can I tell? He wants me to call him tomorrow at the number he provided.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Rose. 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.
Will
I had the same phone call today: Social Security Agent Badge# 7426-9023 Case ID # DM37010……..He said the same thing to me as well regarding the my warrant in Texas.
Rhonda P.
Third call now about being arrested from social security office about suspicious activity from my social security number.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Rhonda. 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.
Gail D.
I’ve received several calls in the last two days saying that my Social Security number was being used fraudulently and a warrant was issued for my arrest. I am 81 years old and read all the info on the web site and that’s way I am contacting you, I wrote down the ph. nos. but did not give you any information, I just hung up. So far, I got two calls yesterday and another one this morning. Both with differenct numbers.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Gail. 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.
Nyoka r.
(828) 242-6433
This is the phone number I was contacted from, and was informed by a recording that I was going to go to prison for tax related charges if I did not respond to the call. When the actual person came on the line, and I questioned the legitimacy of the call, I was told to, and I quote in exact words,
“ was your pussy and then talk to me”, the called then disconnected. Something needs to be done about these calls, they are using local numbers, and I have children and family, so of course I’m going to answer local numbers! It’s time something be done about this, the vulgarity of these people is unacceptable! It’s not the first nasty mouthed, fraudulent phone call I have received from these people, and I have had MANY other women tell me they have been spoken to in the same disrespectful, disgusting manner. Do something about this already!
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Nyoka. 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.
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