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

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Comments

  1. Ann l.

    At 11:20 am pst, I received a call from SSA, agent badge SS89165, claiming an enforcement action of my SSN. I did not answer the call, it was a message. The phone number and caller ID number was 774-567-0179, Dover, MA. FYI, new scam?

    • R.F.

      Hello Ann. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending.
      If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Please click here for more information. Thanks!

  2. Ellen A.

    I just received a phone call from
    202 886-3574 telling me that my social security
    number has been used fraudulently for ID theft, and that
    it has been cancelled.
    When I called the number they wanted me to give
    the last 4 digits, which I refused. They said they wouldn’t help me and to go to Social Security to clear things up. I read the message about these phone calls being a scam. Just 2 weeks ago I was at Social Security in Santa Ana, CA to get a replacement card.
    Please advise me if I need to do anything about this call
    Ellen M. Angel eangel611@gmail.com

  3. Robin E.

    I received a phone call on my cell phone Thurs. before last. That’s weird because I don’t usually receive calls on my cell phone. But, the number that showed up on my caller ID was the legitimate social security phone number. My cell phone does not work well at all where I live, because I live in the country. I tried to answer, but I could only hear part of the message. I heard something about my benefits being terminate due to possible illegal activity. They also asked for my SS#, which I did give since it was the official SS phone #. I am on SSI, disability, and definitely cannot afford to lose my benefits. I called the official # several times trying to find out what was going on. But, so far I haven’t reached anyone, after holding for 2 hrs. or more. I have NOT received anything by mail concerning this or from you. I need to know what’s going on!!! I am currently on hold again now. I also have not received anything by mail about any kind of COLA. And I would prefer to receive it by mail. Please let me know what’s going on!!!! Was this a scam or real??

  4. Jeanette J.

    Someone seems to have compromised my Social security number ! What can I do?

  5. Phebe M.

    Just received a call stating my SS will be or was blocked and press 1 or 2 to speak to an agent thought twice but chose to hang up the caller ID showed 800-772-1213 so I googled it and Social Security in MS showed up After further ‘Googling” of the number, a Chinese or Asian country showed up I decided to go direct to SSA.gov and came across your warning of these calls Thank you

  6. Lex R.

    By cyber crime problem is that digital transfers of social security from the US to Indonesia go missing with social security saying that they were sent and the Indonesian bank saying that the money was not received.

    I am trying to get some agency to investigate but is difficult making contact from outside the US.

  7. Ruben

    New “spoof” number calling people from:
    760-412-4544

  8. Kathie

    Happened to me 2x today.
    SSA should change their number and make it unpublished or protected somehow.

  9. Alma B.

    I have gotten 3 phone calls from the 800-772-1213 in the past 3 days. I hung up the first time and didn’t answer the other times. I went to White Pages and put the number in and it came up with a name Kelly Eder 6913 Bartlettsville rd Heltonville, IN 47436. How can she get away with this.

  10. R G.

    Just received an attempt, this morning, to my cell phone that exactly fits the profile outlined in the Acting Inspector General’s statement.

    The automated voice was garbled and breaking up even though I had a strong signal on my end. I hung up immediately after being asked to “Press ‘1’.” Minutes later, I redialed the number appearing on caller ID only to (fortunately) discover that the SSA was closed in remembrance of President Bush.

    Received verification (from my state department of treasury) that the SSA only corresponds via snail mail.

    Will be contacting OIG, SSA and local SSA office with this information.

    Hope and pray these scammers/spoofers are brought to justice

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your comment and for sharing this information.
      Just a reminder – Citizens may report this type of information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!

Comments are closed.