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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Sheri A.
I think I also was a close victim to a scam with someone who claimed to be representing Social Security. They called me and said that they were from Medicare/Social Security and were authorized to grant me treatment for my lower back pain. Then they asked me if I spelled my first name Sherry. I told them that if they were genuinely from Social Security/Medicare, they would already know how to spell my name, and hung up. They didn’t call back. The phone number they called from was 8773258032.
This happened on April 1, 2019 at 5:21 p.m.
Kathy J.
On Thursday, Apr. 11, 2019, I received 3 different phone calls from 3 different phone numbers, stating my Social Security card had been comprised, and to call them back by pressing the number ‘1’. I believe the messages were left by the same male caller. The following are the numbers which showed on my phone leaving said messages to which I did not respond:
917-079-5078 (United States)
315-344-4259 (Huevelton, NY)
315-895-4451 (Ilion, NY)
Martin g.
I received a phone call that if I didn’t call the number that was provided for me, my social security would end today.what do I do? Please help me!!!!
Dolores N.
Got a call from 1-605-655-2731 saying there had been sever things happening with my social security card. I know it is a scam and did not call it back, but just wanted to give you this phone number in case it is a new one. I do receive calls from time to time.
Thanks
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Dolores. 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. You can find additional information here. Thanks, again.
Ferman J.
I keep getting calls from (253.271.4633) stating that my Soc. Sec. will be put on a freeze if I don’t reply in 24hrs.. Please call this number (253.271.4633) and see if you are able to trace the caller. I am a retired police officer and I can have my department do it. Please let me know something. Thanks so much.
A.C.
Hi, Ferman. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If 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. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Alfredo R.
This number say from social sercurty officer number 3253580944 it from Florida! It be call all day
A.C.
Hi, Alfredo. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If 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. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Nedra D.
How are we suppose to recognized a legitimate email from the Social Security Administration, or the OIG?
Dave C.
You’ve pretty much outlined how the scammer should handle the phone call… be polite, don’t fake the SSA , OIG phone # or Fraud hotline #, patiently remind them that SSA employees do occasionally call citizens, then ask for them to verify their identity, make a payment, etc. A smooth talker could pull this off.
Ron D.
Our justice system needs to get after these people who commit this fraud. I say increase finesto 2000 to 25000 jjail time !!!
J
Sheek s.
Sheek sic zahriya *** – ** – ***