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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LeAnn K.
I’ve received 3 bogus calls just today! from 775-830-8769, 775-830-2215 & 775-830-7569. This is BAD!
Terry
INDIAN PHONE SCAM THESE CALLS ARE COMING FROM INDIANS FROM INDIA. WHY DON’T OUR PRESIDENT BRING IT UP TO THE INDIAN CROOK MODY PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE VISIT THE COUNTRY OF SCAMMERS!
INDIAN SCAMMER CALL RECEIVED:
This was my ss scammer call from 609-842-5232
Click below and listn::
https://www.nomorobo.com/lookup/609-842-5232
Terry
INDIAN PHONE SCAM THESE CALLS ARE COMING FROM INDIANS FROM INDIA. WHY DON’T OUR PRESIDENT BRING IT UP TO THE INDIAN CROOK MODY PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE VISIT THE COUNTRY OF SCAMMERS!
Kathy B.
My husband and I get these scam calls about social security all the time on our home and cell phones and report them. A friend just got such a call on her cell from a man with an odd accent who knew her full birthdate. He went on to say someone is using her social security number and if she did not answer the caller’s questions she herself would be arrested. Our friend is a single, hardworking mom of two and this has frightened her terribly, even though I told her Social Security would not make such a call nor ask for your number. How can these creeps be stopped?
Susan
I was called by 646.905.0289 telling me there was a problem with my SS#. I called back to see how they answered. They claim to be an office of SS. I hung up figuring it was a scam. Maybe you can do something with this phone number. The call indicated it was coming from New York. I’m in El Paso, TX.
I’m afraid to post my information. What follows is not me.
Lacey
I got 4 phone calls yesterday telling me to call 2 different numbers, that if I did not get in contact with them I was looking at being arrested. These are the numbers that, the same lady called all 4 times, I was asked to call 844-557-0321 & 866-477-9251
Vernon
Received a threatening call.
The number on my screen 1-812-286-3552
Sharon v.
Just recieved call from 18446230209. Leaving message of activity on social security.
Jayne M.
I received a call this am from Texas and I live in Omaha NE – saying unless I call them my ss would be suspended – the number they called from 832-685-2119 – I know it is a scam but I wanted to hear what they said I called them back and they answered the phone they were the social security office – they asked for my name and phone number – I gave a bogus name and not number so they hung up –
Carolyn L.
On 2-20-2020 at approximately 1 pm I received a telephone call from an unidentified male stating that he had received an order stating that my social security benefits were being terminated and that I should call 1-866-902 (these numbers were hard to understand) – 5323. This message is all that I have done.