Inspector General Warns Public About Caller-ID “Spoofing” Scheme Misusing SSA Customer Service Number
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 22, 2018
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about an ongoing caller-ID “spoofing” scheme misusing the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) national customer service phone number. SSA has received numerous reports of questionable phone calls displaying SSA’s 1-800 number on a caller-ID screen. This is a scam; citizens should not engage with those calls or provide any personal information.
These reports indicate the calls display the 1-800-772-1213, SSA’s national customer service number, as the incoming number on caller ID. People who have accepted the calls said the caller identifies as an SSA employee. In some cases, the caller states that SSA does not have all of the person’s personal information, such as their Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim SSA needs additional information so the agency can increase the person’s benefit payment, or that SSA will terminate the person’s benefits if they do not confirm their information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from citizens across the country.
SSA employees do contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes, and in some situations, an SSA employee may request the citizen confirm personal information over the phone. However, SSA employees will never threaten you for information or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.
“This caller-ID spoofing scheme exploits SSA’s trusted reputation, and it shows that scammers will try anything to mislead and harm innocent people,” Stone said. “I encourage everyone to remain watchful of these schemes and to alert family members and friends of their prevalence. We will continue to track these scams and warn citizens, so that they can stay several steps ahead of these thieves.”
The Acting Inspector General urges citizens to be extremely cautious, and to avoid providing information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it. If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, you should report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Angela
Good morning.
Today I received a robo-call from 888-810-5136 stating that it was the Social Security Administration calling to notify me that there had been fraud on my SSN and to press #1 to speak to a representative. I hung up, called back and received an automated answering system for a business called Echo Park.
A.C.
Hi, Angela. 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.
Dorothy L.
Received a call from SS rep who was checking to see about my new SS card.(This is recorded on my answering machine) The Federal Govt Investigation is to see if I have my new card (some of this is verbatim and I saved the message) If they don’t hear from me (I was given the phone number of 410-541-9303 ) I will be in great trouble with the Federal govt. and if I don’t call back I will be sorry. I am doing nothing about this call and if you would like to have a written copy of it, let me know.
A.C.
Hi, Dorothy. 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.
Lila M.
I received a voice mail from the SS ADMINISTRATION stating my ss number security had been threatened & that my card was on hold. Could this be fraud? Or is it legitimate
A.C.
Hi, Lila. Thanks for checking in with us. Keep in mind 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Barbara P.
I got a call saying my SS number has been use in Texas. Said they found abanded car with blood dropping n drugs n money laundry. Also said my ss# was spended until the investigation is over with. The number they call me from is 361 741 4049. Spoke with a Jack Miller the investor Jack Barker. Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Barbara. Thanks for letting us know. Keep in mind 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Lylliam A.
I got a phone call ,she said the my S.S was compromise and that I need to call 1-844-374-8851 , I just want to report this. Thank you
J.Y.
Thanks for checking in with us. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
P. M.
Received a phone call today informing me a legal action had been filed against my social security number. I returned the call and a man who gave his name a Richard Weber also gave me an official ID number as 9826856. Also asked for the last 4 digits of my S.S number. When I flatly reused to give him that info he told me I would have to use the government website to follow up and hung up.
A.C.
Hi. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.
MP
I just got a called today, March 22nd 2019 from a number that had automated voice saying it was Social Security and they are calling because they are suspending my acct because they detected fraudulent activity on it and then told me to press “1” to discuss further.
Its was a spoof call
Here is the number..many seniors could fall for it
332-876-1666
A.C.
Hi, MP. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Edward G.
They’re tenacious. Keep calling even after I’m on to them.
Ask for Social Security number?? Ya mean SS doesn’t know my SS number??
They appeal to greed saying they just want to help you collect more money. AND they are entering false info on fraud “Do Not Call” sites saying their calls/numbers are legit.
My caller made it appear they were calling from the Boston Social Security Adm (617 area code) ..but asked me to call back on an 866 number..
Let your friends know.
SS DOES NOT call and ask you for personal info.
sherry b.
i rcvd a call from 240-203-6145 at 8:40am pst, starting out as a recording stating my SS# had been compremised, when a man with an Indian or Irain accent came on the line, he informed me that my SS# had been used in an illegal manner and needed my name/ss/dob to clear this matter up, which i gave him no info, instead i told him this call was being recorded and was being turned over to the SS Admin to which he said something in a foreign language and hung up. when my daughter came home from school she had a call from same phone number which she did not answer. as both our phone numbers start with the same 321 number i suspect they were on an auto printout sheet
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Sherry. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Louise M.
I received a phone call today that my social security number was being miss used and I needed to call this number back to get it fixed. 872-205-3457 from Chicago, Illinois. When I called this number back the man wanted my name and sss #, I informed him I would call my local office to get this straitened out. He informed me why not just do it now and I said I didn’t trust him and sss doesn’t call they would send me a letter and I hung up.
V.V.
Hi Louis: Thanks for checking in with us. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.