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

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Comments

  1. Jeffrey S.

    I Need Help Someone Is USEING MY SS# Someone Call MeThey Ask Me Was my name,Address I Call The # Back No One answer

    • K.T.

      Thanks for letting us know, Jeffrey. 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.

  2. Linda S.

    How could I report someone that is receiving social security and says that she lives at an address that she don’t she lives at another address and she also sells Avon and makes money and she don’t report it
    How do I need to report too

    • V.V.

      Thank you for helping us fight fraud, Linda. We take allegations of fraud very seriously. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of Social Security benefits, we encourage you to report it here.

  3. Laurie

    518-444-6207 wanting social security number and all info … Danger

    • A.C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Laurie. 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.

  4. Susan s.

    I had a phone scam today number they gave me 555-2863 also badge number badge Number Bm10173 phone number they called me with was231-327-5420

  5. Liann B.

    I am sure I have compromised my social security number, can you help me?

    • Jeff C.

      I Need Help Someone Is USEING MY SS# Someone Call MeThey Ask Me Was my name,Address I Call The # Back No One answer

  6. Yolanda J.

    Your need to redetermination for Hayward Jackson he is not disabled he is able to hold down a full time job Dr black stated that he needs to and his heart doctor at Wadley hospital 9037988000

    • Yolanda J.

      His date of birth 06/05/1963 ss5696

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