Frauds & Scams

Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number

April 2, 2019 • By

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Last Updated: April 2, 2019

The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning citizens about a caller-ID “spoofing” scheme misusing the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Fraud Hotline phone number. The OIG has received recent reports of phone calls displaying the Fraud Hotline number on a caller-ID screen. This is a scam; OIG employees do not place outgoing calls from the Fraud Hotline 800 number. Citizens should not engage with these calls or provide personal information.

SSA and OIG employees do contact citizens by telephone for official purposes, and they may request the citizen confirm personal information over the phone. However, the calls do not appear on caller ID as the Fraud Hotline number of (800) 269-0271. Also, SSA and OIG employees will never threaten you for information or promise any type of official action in exchange for personal information or payment.  In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA or OIG, you should report that information to the OIG online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report or by calling (800) 269-0271, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams:  https://identitytheft.gov/ssa

See the full advisory at the OIG website.

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About the Author

Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director

Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director

Comments

  1. Craig

    I received a call from 425-620-0695. They indicated they were part of the SSA and tracked money laundering in Texas. After clearly telling him no, he continued to ask me to verify my Social Security number. I told him that he cannot suspend citizenship and continued to say watch me. I told him to go ahead haha. Don’t fall for this SCAM!

    • A.C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Craig. 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, again.

  2. Frustrated

    I continue to get these social security fraud phone calls. Each time it’s the same message, and yet from different numbers. -mostly wanting me to call back immediately before charges are filed? So pathetic and frustrating. These low life scum bags think it’s fun and a game to toy with people.
    I have read most of these comments as well, and am feeling disappointed in the fact that it feels like know one seems to know how to stop this???
    Come on. Computers are very smart these days and there are all kinds of algorithms- you’d think this could also be used for the “good of the people”. Basically all of these phone numbers are fraud and have left these messages:
    281-836-4536, 812-420-1419, 559-342-2094, 559-201-1653, 559-201-1697, 559-370-1476, 805-273-5012, 843-466-4735, 714-292-7977, 714-292-2743, 714-292-2391, 714-292-4667, 516-495-6012
    We should all just publish the guilty numbers and block all of them. Plus this way… if anyone really is looking into it, this allows us to share with them and possibly help them track down these criminals, or at least these sources.

  3. Barbara C.

    Trying to report fraudulent phone calls from number 325 400 5759 ,they keep calling saying I have committed fraudulent acts with social security card . They have been threating me with legal action. If I don’t comply. They contacted me at least 4 times already ,recent 6/10/2019 I wanted to report this to someone . Thank you

    • A.C.

      Hi, Barbara. Thanks for checking in with us. 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. We hope this helps.

  4. Teri Z.

    My check is sceduled to be deposited on the 8th of each month. I have not yet received it for June. Should I be concerned? Who should I contact to find out what to do? Thank you for your help.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Teri. If you do not receive your electronic payment on the scheduled pay date, please contact your bank or financial institution first. They may be experiencing a delay in posting your payment. If you still need to report a late, missing, or stolen Social Security payment, visit here. For future pay dates, you may also find the schedule of Social Security benefit payment calendar useful. We hope this helps.

  5. Rosalie V.

    Today I received a phone call from a gentleman and it was a recorded message from the Federal Chrime and Investigation department and need to talk with me as soon as possible, from Social Security Administration..Asked me to call (859)898-3611.
    I assume this is a fraudulent call. I believe the call came from this number (888)256-8973. Please advise.
    Thanks Rosalie Veile
    veilere@ucmail.uc.edu

    • A.C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Rosalie. 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. We hope this information is helpful.

  6. Laura G.

    I received a call today from 1-408-757-0490 the person was claiming to be an officer with Social Security and wanted a call back on the hotline # before legal proceedings start. I called and they wanted my name and ssn# and said my ssn was being stopped unless i provided more information. I was given a badge number for the officer – 70528C. I could hear it was definitely coming from a call center and challenged the person’s validity – I ended up be cursed and they hung up.

    • A.C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Laura. 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, again.

  7. George S.

    I get a number of calls (messages ) on my home phone that pop up on my phone every day. They start out with a “threat of arrest” unless I return the call or call a number that they suggest. I delete the message. I am tired of getting these messages in my inbox.

    • A.C.

      Hi, George. Thanks for checking in with us. 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. We hope this helps.

  8. Doris G.

    I received a phone call message from Allentown Pennsylvania, from phone number 484-661-4872. Their message said my Social Security number is associated with fraud, and I need to call back as soon as possible to prevent any legal proceedings against me.
    I want to report this phone number to Social Security authorities.
    I also called the Inspector General phone number 800-269-0271, to report this phone number (484 661 4872) but the IG phone number, Menu was malfunctioning: It asked me, “to speak or press” a number, to refer me to the appropriate person, but when I pressed “0” for the operator, or “4” to report fraud, (multiple times) the answering machine menu just said they could not understand my response, and then just kept repeating what numbers to ”speak or press” for the various options. It appeared that your hotline for reporting fraud has been disabled, to prevent people from reporting fraud.

  9. Danielle D.

    I had a pair of 300 dollar glasses stolen from Calvin Klein Danielle

  10. Brad D.

    8558542555, fraudulent call from this number.

    • L.A.

      Hi Brad. 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.

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