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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Allison
In regards to this post specifically, I just received a call from the following number at a message saying they were going to pursue legal action against me. Startling. However, when I returned the call, the answering service did not identify themselves. V. suspicious.
Here is the number that showed up on my phone and was also the number that was requested when I called.
(833) 223-3123
Please pursue legal or disciplinary action against this fraudulent agency. I am educated and informed and not as vulnerable as many. I don’t want to see innocent people taken advantage of.
Thank you.
V.V.
Thank you for reaching out, Allison. You can report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here.
Kinna
I just received a call from 800-772-1213 indicating that my SSN had been suspended. When I hung up on them suspecting that it was a scam call, they phoned me back from 202-324-3000. Based on the way the “agent” identified herself I am not inclined to believe that this was a legitimate call.
L.A.
Thank you for letting us know, Kinna. 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.
Adrienne
Same happened to me a few months ago. They said my number had been compromised and my checks would be stopped…I said I wish you would….I didnt give them any information…they tried to get me to give them my full name, date if birth, ssn, address, mother’s maiden name, I told them that they’re social security so they should have all if that…also I said why are you all calling me and I haven’t received anything in the mail about this so called compromise? He said it was something that just happened and they’re trying to head it off before…..blah…blahhh…blahhh…..I acted panicked at first…then he asked for my bank account information and I asked him why did he need that….he said just to verify….I then stated you’re social security BENEFITS…you should already have it….I told him that I’m not giving out any personal information over the phone and a matter of fact I’m heading to the social security office right now…hahahaha….bc I don’t like that they’re asking me to verify my information over the phone….he got real angry and then I knew for sure it was fraud…bc I wasn’t sure at first and here’s why….the phone number they called me from came up as Social Security Administration the same phone number I have saved in my cell phone….they’re now mimicking the same numbers now…..what raised flag number one for me was that I didnt receive anything from social security BENEFITS ia the regular postal mail about a breach or fraud on my account prior to this call. Second flag was him asking for my personal information and it wasn’t a call I made to social security BENEFITS that they would need to verify who I am calling into their call center, third flag was him getting really belligerent when I refused, 4th flag was the agent code he gave at the beginning..this isn’t the IRS calling so the more I thought about it throughout the call the more it just didnt make sense. I hope this helps alot of people avoid making one of the biggest mistakes that would cost them their retirement or disability benefits.
Craig M.
Is 866-853-2965 an ssa phone number? A recording from that number claims there is fraud against my ss number. Is this legit.
L.A.
Hello Craig. Thank you for letting us know. 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.
Glen S.
I just recieved a call from 1 210-361-4940 claiming to be SSA saying I owed money and had a warrant. It was a recorded message from a TTS bot that sounded a lot like Microsoft Sam from the old days. I called the number back and an Indian picked up. I told him of they didnt stop their scam I’d report them and he hung up on me. I reported the number to Mr Number so anyone else who uses that app will be alerted of that member’s intentions. Be wary, everyone.
L.A.
Hi Glen. 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.
Louise B.
I just received a scam call from this number 1 913 270-1721. Kansas City was identified on my screen. This caller said there were irregularities in my SS and I needed to address this immediately or lose my SS payment.
I hung up and called you. I get at least 6 calls a month related to Social Security and recognize these are scam calls. Isn’t there something that can be done about this?
Rick
I keep receiving these types of calls from the following number: 972-666-4351. It shows up as Ennis, TX.
A.C.
Hi, Rick. 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. We hope this helps.
Harry E.
I received a fraudulent call from a voice threatening to start legal procedures because of my criminal activity. They gave no details so I am pretty sure it was fraudulent. The number that called me was 817-385-6964
V.V.
Hi Harry. Thank you for letting us know about the call. 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.
John A.
I’ve been receiving phone calls lately stating that my Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity. I’m sure this is some sort of scam operations and wanted to report this. The phone number that called is 800-268-7383. Please alert people to this scam. Thanks
L.A.
Hello John. 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.
Ismael
I’ve received a recorded call from 678-661-9168 saying that my SS# was suspended because they found some ” suspicious ” activity, the recording say to press 1 to take care of the problem.
A.C.
Hi, Ismael. 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.
janeth M.
I received call from this number (888) 810-0376 in my cell phone saying me that my social security is suspended because they find something wrong something like that
V.V.
Hi Janeth. Thank you for letting us know. Unfortunately, as the blog indicates, there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. 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.