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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Kari C.
I got a robo call saying “ federal crime investigation department we need to talk to you as soon as possible again this call is from Social Security administration number to reach department is 833-239-8555 I repeat it’s 833-239-8555 thank you…”
Fraud.
Luis A.
Hi Kari. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
Martin H.
I been getting calls and emails by someone claims to be from SSA to increase my social security income. The name comes with Susan W. and phone number of 210-871-0026. I just figure it just to easy to comes true, and feel like reporting this.
Luis A.
Hi Martin. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
Dominic R.
My name is Dominic Russo I received a call from 1-800 157 3925 they stated that my social security number had been compromised and I need to call immediately I looked at the number up on Google and it took me to a foreign country with look like Asian type writing I could not understand so I’m reporting the number to you as soon as obviously a fraud .thanks I hope this helps
Luis A.
Hi Dominic. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
William M.
Have been getting these “spoofed” calls almost weekly, saying my SSN is being used in Texas. They don’t have my complete information, so I hang up.
Nonetheless, it causes worry – operators ALWAYS have non-American accents!
Luis A.
Hi William. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
ANTONETH B.
There was a call from 315-812-3017 today at 2:59 PM on my land line 7183433607 and there was a recording saying get in touch with us you are being invesitgated by SSA. And I called back on the same land line which and asked who are you and he addressed as he is with SSA investigation department with strong Indian acccent and he said he was David Brown with that same accent and I gave him such a piece of mind saying you sound like an indian from some remote village a scammer and he hung up on me
Luis A.
Hi Antoneth. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
Maria F.
mi esposo y yo recibimos de 3 a 6 Scam Likely llamadas todos los días
y mi telefono identifica varios números uno de estos es 1-346-323-6176 Humble Tx. que tenemos que hacer???????
Maria F.
mi esposo y yo recibimos de 3 a 6 Scam Likely llamadas todos los días
y mi telefono identifica varios números uno de estos es 1-346-323-6176 Humble Tx. que tenemos que hacer???????
Ann C.
Hi, Maria. For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov or http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. For Social Security information in other languages, please visit us at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/multilanguage. Thanks!
Shane P.
I receive social security disability . I got a call from what I believe is a scam . Saying my benefits are in danger . It was a voice mail in a digital sounding voice from 937 area code. And one prior referring to some magestrate . I never heard this term before . I’m disabled with a ruined back .
Shane P.
Also the exact words are your social # will be cancelled
Ann C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Shane. 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.
annoyed p.
I got a call on my cell phone from a number claiming to be in Toledo, Ohio. Left a voicemail and said to call them back about my social security number. Person who answered sounded like they were foreign. I hung up. I don’t know how they got my number.
Luis A.
Hi. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
Shirley
Someone called me today on my cell and I provided my name and last 4 digits of my social security number and then she said she was calling from SS in Michigan and the phone went dead and I knew it was fake. Scared now.
Luis A.
Hi Shirley. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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 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.