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. Kaitlin B.

    I received a phone call today stating that it was the SSA. The phone number used was
    281-973-6820.

    It seemed very suspicious so I hung up the phone. I wanted to report it immediately.

    Thank you,

    Kaitlin

    • J.Y.

      Thanks for letting us know, Kaitlin. 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 also for helping us fight fraud.

  2. Megan A.

    +18665044267. This number is a scammer.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Megan. Thanks for letting us know. 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.

  3. richard

    Had a call from 1 800 8649721 stating my ssn had been suspended. Just wanted to let youn know that number.

  4. richard c.

    Had a call from 1 800 8649721 stating my ssn had been suspended. Just wanted to let youn know that number.

    • A.C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Richard. 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.

  5. francis i.

    im hoping everybody having a nice week me it terrible because it make me so made yeah of this week can’t get ever and you yeah make me sad the fact i’v got to be home and get unexpected call and u know this number is not connected to social security ill will call the polies if this happens again im email is francis isme 01 @ gmail.com if i get another number like this i will personally get the feuds involve and the number that was place i mean return me a fradulent number because know that social security don’t work on week ns so stop call me or if keeps on happening i will get the law involved thank u

  6. Tanya h.

    Somebody keep call me say some fraudulent on my SSI say I need to call them

    • A.C.

      Hi, Tanya. 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.

  7. Theresa B.

    Recieved a call from a 712-890-1181 based in Iowa. Called the number back, the person couldn’t speak clear english, wouldn’t spell his name, said his id # was us14340.

    • A.C.

      Thanks for checking in with us, Theresa. 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. Karen A.

    I just signed up online for “My Social Secuirty” and then received a scam call about an hour and a half later. Now I am worried that somehow my information has been scooped up. My info was correct on the ss site as to mu work histort and I made sure the connection was secure so I feel ok about that. Still worrisome.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Karen. We take protecting the public’s personal information very seriously. All of our online applications use an identity verification process to protect the privacy of your identity and your Social Security information. 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.

  9. Rohit K.

    Hello all,

    I recieved a call today moments ago, an automated voice which said they are from Social Security Administration office and mentioned that my SSN has been comproimised and will be cancelled if i would not choose option 1 in order to talk to a customer care executive, once connected i asked them from when did Social security Administration office staff started calling about SSN cancellation over the phone and they hung up.
    Though i have not disclosed any peice of infomraiton to the personnel.

    Number i got the call from is: +1 8001277213

  10. Cynthia M.

    I received a recorded call this morning at 11:41am from telephone number 202-760-4479 in Washington, DC (per phone screen) and the recorded message stated that my social security number had been fraudulently used at the southern border in Texas and to speak to an officer to discuss, press #1, which I did because I thought the call was real. The telephone number was displayed, as well as Washington DC. I pressed #1 and no one came on the line. I pressed #1 again. No one. I hung up and dialed the number and a recorded message stated that it had been disconnected.

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