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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Mindy W.
My name is Mindy Whitcomb and I just got off the phone with someone saying they were from SSA and him saying my social security number was going to removed because of fraudulent activity out El Paso TX and he gave me addresses where supposedly they were using my SS number and the charges are money laundering. He gave me his name Sam Marshall and employee number 1r201469 and said the case # is Fc86477 and the phone number he called from was 970-442-6598 and it said on my caller I D it was Ignacio Co but when I call it back it says the call center is temporarily unavailable location 17007. I know this was a scam or something so I got as much information as I could and if you need to reach me my phone number is 970-549-7712 thank you
Donna M.
I want to report 2 calls that say my ss# has been used in Mexico and sounds very real. I know it is not, but the number called from is: 1-800-772-1213
A.C.
Hi, Donna. 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.
Peter L.
Monday I got a call from Social Security Officer Nicole Williams, Badge ID 12586, phone number 855-678-9865,case number 05638. She stated that someone in Texas was using my name and SS number.They found an abandon black Toyota car in Texas with drugs and my ID info. She said I would be getting a new SS number and proceded to ask info about my accounts. She said 2 agents would be coming by the next days to get more info and a new card. After answering several questions about my accounts, I refused any more, and told her I would wait for the agents the next day and hung up. Tuesday I got an email from “surfacestore6@gmail.com” which was a bill for $3815.50 for a Microsoft Surface pro. I called the company at 1-877-313-7353 and canx the order..They said the the package was being sent to someone in California.
So far I have no other problems.
A.C.
Hi, Peter. 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.
Karla M.
My name is Karla Calvert. I’m 67. I’ve gotten two calls from someone claiming to be from Social Security. The first one was a couple weeks ago claiming that we had done something fraudulent and needed to call then back right away. I always let the calls go to our answering machine, and when I listen to the call I never call them back because I don’t trust them. I feel that it’s a scam. I called SS, and a couple of other numbers that was given to me by the person there and the last place I called the young man to go to this website and give you the phone numbers that they left on my answering machine.
The second call we got dealt with drug trafficing and money laundering. We didn’t do any of the things they said we did.
So, here’s the phone numbers that they left on our machine. 1. 512-641-9057
2. 813-321-8729
Hope you can find out who they belong to and keep them from doing it again. We senior citizens need all the help we can get.
Thank You.
Donna N.
I’ve have 3 calls this morning telling me there is suspicious activity on my Social security. They ask me to call or my SS number will be shut off.
The number that comes up when they call is 906-284-8071 and that is the number I call to talk to them.
Olivia P.
If you see this number 1(800)233-2199 and the caller say your social security has been suspended that’s a scam and then the person say they officer so and so they or telling the untruth social security workers never say this is officer so and so…
Robert A.
I received a phone call today, saying that they knew I had spectrum service, and they could offer a better rate. They said that they couldn’t use my 1st name, as it was already on the 1st account, but they could use my middle name on the new account. Then they asked me to verify my SS#. I should receive my new box in 3-5 days, and I can send the old box to spectrum. I don’t know if this is legit, as I know others offer better deals. There were 2 guys in Walmart yesterday. But, I now worry if someone can do harm, just knowing my name and SS#.
A.C.
Hi, Robert. 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.
James M.
I received a call from an (888)900-3756. I did not answer my phone, however, the caller left a voice message which also translated into a text message.
Message quote is as follows:
“We are trying to reach you for the last time to verify about such activities just in case we will not hear back from you it will be considered as an intentional fraud and the lawsuit will be filed under your name. In order to get more information and talk to the Social Security Officer, kindly press one. I repeat press one to connect your call to Social Security Officer. Thank You.”
Please advise if this is a fraud or do I need to contact the Social Security Office for additional information.
A.C.
Hi, James. Thanks for checking in with us. 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.
Laurence L.
received several phone calls claiming to be from the social security number was being used in northern Texas and I was to press 1 on my phone for a police officer. I hung up her. Was this a scam.?
L.A.
Hi Laurence. 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.
Frank D.
Received Call from
575-929-1470
on 12/4/19
Claiming to be SS and threatening to close my account
They called me right after I called SS office
Someone is Ghosting your calls. !!
L.A.
Hi Frank. 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.