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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John M.
What about someone claiming to be an officer of Texas where an individuals ssn has shown up.
A.C.
Hi, John. Thanks for checking in with us. 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 at 1-800-269-0271 or 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.
Stuart C.
I would like to understand how these fraudulent calls continue unabated. I assume this is illegal activity with serious consequences for the perp. Yet the frequency is increasing and the ability of callers to fake the source number is seemingly tolerated by telecommunications providers, who in my mind are complicit in these crimes. Do something!
Let us mknow if there are advocacy groups fighting this abomination of U.S. freedoms.
Joanne H.
Today,September 9 we received a call allegedly from Social security telling us that we may have lea gal action against us. This is the second time we had that call. The number is 321 269 9514. Not sure about the area code number it was gargled
Please advise me if that is a legitimate call.
Albert and Joanne Hurtado
L.A.
Hi Joanne. 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.
Allen
Someone called and left a message. They said they were from social security and if I didn’t get hold of them soon a warrant would be issued emmideantly. My social had things suspicious on it. If I didn’t call 1-800-406-0437 right away the police will be called.
I call 4× and it was busy right away. No other calls since. I am afraid. I haven’t done anything wrong. Please I need assurance now
Alicia L.
I received a call from a maryland number 1-240-0324-6195 stating my social security number has some suspicions. They had my name but didnt have any other information.
L.A.
Hi Alicia. 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.
Elizabeth D.
I have reason to believe that whomever is “spoofing” is a current employee. I reapplied for my child’s SSI and I was denied. This week 3 days in a row I received phone calls from SSI informing of fraudulent activity on my SSI and that I my child was denied. I presented all the evidence on my case and the letter States that I say even when I presented the findings it makes a direct target to me that I say and it lists the information of places and Drs my child is seeing and it states that I needed to keep taking him to the doctor. The letter is written in more of an attack towards me and what gets me is that it all led 3 days prior to the letter. A spoof it sure sounds like it but again it’s coming from within. Someone that works for SSI is making/targeting individuals. Someone needs to look into it.
Joy J.
Friday, a call was made to my home phone saying there was a problem with my SS payment because of fraudulent activity, and I should press1.. or call the SS office. I do not have caller ID so I have no number for them.
They did not state my number or name, leading me to think it was not authentic.
L.A.
Hi Joy. 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.
Jennie
1800 -914-4483, 1-800-917-2325, 1-800-990-5162, 1-800-954-5053and 1-800-991-1198 are all numbers that have given repeated calls threatening arrest from Social Security several times per day if you wish to contact me I will come in but I believe these are scams thank you ,J. Borum
L.A.
Hi Jennie. 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.
Barbara L.
Thanks !! I did not think SSA called w/out prior knowledge of an upcoming call per an appointment. Glad to know this is still in effect !!!
Jerome K.
You need to have a way to check a phone number to see if its from a legitimate social security employee. I received a call from someone claiming they needed to talk to my wife about her retirement paperwork. The caller did not sound like a native English speaker. He gave a number and extension to call back but I told my wife we need to check the number. Is there a simple way we can do this by email? We both work all day and do not have time in the day to this.