Inspector General Warns Public About New Twist To Social Security Phone Scams
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 9, 2020
The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public that telephone scammers may send faked documents by email to convince victims to comply with their demands. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has received reports of victims who received emails with attached letters and reports that appeared to be from Social Security or Social Security OIG. The letters may use official letterhead and government “jargon” to convince victims they are legitimate; they may also contain misspellings and grammar mistakes.
This is the latest variation on Social Security phone scams, which continue to be widespread throughout the United States. Using robocalls or live callers, fraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number, account, or benefits. They may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency such as Bitcoin, or pre-paid debit card.
Inspector General Ennis urges continued vigilance against all types of phone scams no matter what “proof” callers may offer. As we continue to increase public awareness of phone scams, criminals will come up with new ways to convince people of their legitimacy. Social Security will never:
- threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee;
- promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;
- require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card; or
- send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
If there is ever a problem with your Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail you a letter. If you do need to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. You should never pay a government fee or fine using retail gift cards, cash, internet currency, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards. The scammers ask for payment this way because it is very difficult to trace and recover.
If you receive a call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond. We encourage the public to report Social Security phone scams using our dedicated online form, at https://oig.ssa.gov. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about phone scams. For more information, please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.
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About the Author
Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General
About Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General
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Ebon L.
1 888 934 6489 is the number that recently called me about Social Security fraud
A.C.
Hi, Ebon. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Anna m.
This was a woman from social security office and they were gonna take my social security check if I didn’t give them my info. I did not give my info! The number was
(214) 915-2011. I blocked them from calling me again. Please take this info to higher so others like me don’t get scammed.
A.C.
Hi, Anna. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Dale E.
I got a call today. Nobody answered when I said hello.
I called back, and the person answered, Social Security.
Number was : 423-455-0286
“IRS” a.
301-234-7493. Automated message stating “This is officer so and so from the Social Security Administration and your SSN will be suspended for fraudulent activity. Return the call, DO NOT disregard it, if you do, legal proceedings will begin”. I know it’s a scam (the “IRS” and “SSA” have been trying to scam me for 4 years), but it’s threatening “legal” proceedings and can really intimidate and scare people that are unaware.
Erin B.
I just received a robocall from 314 548 0889 (Saint Louis MO) to my home phone with the phone scam alert about my SS# being misused in Texas. I hung up.
Home phone is in Massachusetts.
Anonymous
This is definitely a scam men with accents calling and asking if you are on social security…just hang up.
Charles S.
The biggest problem regarding this matter is the SS itself. I have received many such calls, and I gave up calling SS about them. I got tired of the runaround I got while attempting to report the calls. The “we don’t handle that”, should not be an issue for SS employee, JUST TAKE THE DARN REPORT, and send it to the proper office who handle the matter.
James G.
I have an Email notice sent to me that looks to be a scam .How do I forward this to SSA?
TU.
A.C.
Hi, James. Please be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, or email messages. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company. Avoid providing personal information unless you are certain of a person’s authority to have the information. In a few instances, we will use marketing firms to help raise awareness of Social Security’s online services, and this includes creating a personal my Social Security account. We allow these firms to send emails that will take individuals directly to our website. If you are not certain that an email you received came from Social Security or one of our marketing partners, DO NOT click the link. Visit our Internet Phishing Alert web page to learn more about how to detect a fraudulent email message. We hope this information helps!
jb s.
How is it that the government cannot find and shut down social security scammers. About every two weeks I get a call. from one.
James P.
Hi I would like to maybe with assistance from not even a coded word thing end my life, I’m not seeing a reason to continue doing what I see as reasons to do this anymore and it seems really easy to switch over I to a whole different thing I only know the idea of being a person with people as comfortable please let me know how to get going with that, anything other than that anyone wants to see me doing that makes sense not dying or getting super hurt though I don’t see me that as a reason for more. Thanks you I only like text right now at 2155434979