Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast 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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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Elke M.
I keep receiving call’s from Baltimore MD 1-410-844-3422. The rep that called has an ID # AR95887: They have Called numerous times and want my information DOB SS# : I did not give them any information, Was told that my SS# is being used in Texas for money laundering and drug smuggling !!!! I have never been to Texas I do not know anyone in Texas. That’s what gave me this inclination that this is a scam.
R
I just received a call claiming to be an SSA officer suspending my SSN. I gave no info but got theirs.
Mr Shaw (employee# 417J27)
2530 s Malcolm X
Dallas, TX
Office#80077211213
941-098-6478
charles r.
I received a call from someone who told my that my social security card has been stopped and I will not be able to use it unless I tap “1” on my phone. It sounded suspicious, so I did not tap “1” and hung up. My social security number is “*** – ** – ***” and my name is “Charles G. Ripp” and I live at 151 N. Kenilworth Ave.,unit 1 H, Oak Park,IL 60301. I would appreciate a response from you either verifying that something has happened to my SS number, or that this was a fake attempt to fraud my doc. sec. #
Luis A.
Thank you for letting us know about these calls, Charles. 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.
Janice H.
I received a call from 816-302-9759, Kansas City Mo telling me “if we do not hear from you, all your social benefits will be cancelled until further clearance, your benefits will be blocked permanently.”
Thought I would pass along this info to you, as it may be helpful to you.
I know it is a scam. I hung up on them and they left the message anyway.
Thank you.
Luis A.
Hi Janice, and 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.
Joe M.
Received voice message stating fraudulent activity. It was a 202 area code . I didn’t call. How do we check if this has occurred? Regards Joe&Nan
Luis A.
Hi Joe. 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.
Gina G.
I got a call that was from a mike claiming the office off social security. He had my fool name. I am concerned by this he was talking in away that worries me. It sounded like he said “I love you” then I asked for a supervisor. The supervisor saide his name was Steve and then said my fool name. Witch was pronounced wrong. I did say they were saying it wrong. Then they hung up. The #3304003701. I am worried that tey my have more of my info.
Luis A.
Hi Gina. 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.
Dana R.
Received a call from (574)992-3249 today, which I did not answer. Message left notifying me that my SS# was used in central Texas. The message said that I could speak with an officer for further info.
Just wanted to share since I’m sure it was a scam call.
Luis A.
Hi Dana. 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.
DONNA R.
i got a call from so called ssa and they said my number was no good anymore..and told me to press 1…i didnt but the number was 888-388-8744 and caller id said social security adm
Luis A.
Hi Donna. 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.
Todd H.
1-800-856-2672 called my cell phone with a threatening, pre-recorded message that I was going to be charged with some sort of fine that had to do with something with my social security number. I used a landline phone to call this number back and pressed ‘0’ to get to a ‘SSA Representative’. A male sounding from India or Pakistan took my call and identified himself as ‘Officer Chapman’. I asked him why they called and he was looking for information from me, which he did not get. I told him he was an idiot and then he swore at me. I laughed at him and hung up. However, others may fall for this and I hope that this phone number is investigated properly.
Luis A.
Hi Todd. 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.
Ruben
I keep receiving phone calls my wife also,threatening with cutting benefits,arrest warrants if I don’t reply.I just hang up but my wife gets worried
Luis A.
Hi Ruben. 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.