Frauds & Scams

Inspector General Warns Public About Caller-ID “Spoofing” Scheme Misusing SSA Customer Service Number

October 22, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: October 22, 2018

woman looking on phoneThe 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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About the Author

Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director

Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director

Comments

  1. Karen R.

    I received such a call on 10/23/19. The number on caller ID was 888-753-6489. It was a recording that sounded just like the voice that verifies appointments. It said it was the SSA calling because they had noticed unusual activity on my social security number. To find out more, press 1.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Karen. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.

  2. Mel P.

    Receive a call claiming to be ss administration; connected to someone answering sociall security administration; I asked why are u calling me?

    Was immediately hung up on!

  3. Peter R.

    I have had 3 phone calls.
    #1 I was told my SS# was being suspended due to suspicious activity. This was by voice mail as I do not answer calls I do not know the #, ( 9/18/2019 ) This call was from 281-003-2045.
    #2 512-379-5431. This call ( 9/19/2019.) Threatened the FBI was investigating me due to fraud on my part.
    #3 512-379-5431 date ( 9/20/2019 ) Same thing, I am being investigated due to intentional fraud on my part and a law suit will be filed against me..
    I have saved all these voice mail messages if you should need them.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Peter. Thanks for letting us know. 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.

  4. carmenG.

    i get spoofed calls all the time from Social Security the Gifting Department. i hate it and they use whoever it is local numbers. i pray they will stop but they dont whoever is doing these evil deeds and there is no way to block it on my phone or even if i could i would be blocking someones number . Here is some info i am researching now to see if this can be stopped some way. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id

  5. Mariell J.

    I have received one of those calls ckaiming that it is you, saying that my number is being used for money laundering and many different bank accounts. What gives? I verified the last ffour digits of my social, my address, that’s. it. They hung up after a few minutes.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Marriel. 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.

  6. Bright I.

    When will calls with SPOOFED CALLER ID be made unlawful and BLOCKED by carriers? If a call has falsified caller id, I don’t want it reaching my phone. At the VERY LEAST, I want to see the
    country of origin on my caller id display. If a call coming into my landline is from India (or any other foreign country), I want to see an appropriate CNAME field on my caller id display (i.e. “INDIA”) so I can take appropriate measures to block these calls with my own hardware/software. Back in the 80’s & 90’s spoofing wasn’t even possible. Now, with the advent of the Internet and VoIP (Voice Over IP) service, fraud has become rampant. Carriers have the ability right now to detect and block internationally spoofed calls, yet they route the calls anyway to collect revenue. The “Stir/Shake” nonsense does not work as it does not detect international calls. We are now banding together to boycott ALL phone carriers that allow these calls through. NO MORE TOLERANCE!

  7. Sonya W.

    This number keeps calling me saying they are suspending my social security number and threatening to arrest. The number is 1 800 724 3282. They called 2 times today.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Sonya. Thanks for letting us know. 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. Thanks, again.

  8. Chuck

    I keep getting a call from a 415 area code claiming they are with the SSA. Is this a number others are complaining about? They call like 3 to 4 times a day.

  9. Kathleen

    I’ve gotten 2 text messages talking about my application for disability I never filed one.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Kathleen. Thank you for letting us know about these text messages. If you or anyone receives calls or text messages saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls and text messages 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.

  10. David L.

    I just received a call from somebody claiming to be from the SSN office. They said they were showing what appeared to be false claims on my account and said that my number had been suspended. It was at this time, that I ended the call. The call came from 855 319 7821 at 12:07PM Central time. I had no correspondence with anybody.

    • Luis A.

      Hello David. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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. Thanks, again.

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