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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Maria C.
I received so many phone calls telling me I am under arrest and I have to fly to a certain place to be arrested. So crazy! Sometimes I am instructed to send some money after telling me some invented offenses. I just hung up. Its good I can report these to a secure website.
Eric A.
dlmdlmg;
SONNY M.
Fraud you should be aware of PREMERE LAW FIRM MIN MIN USA . THEY DID FRAUD WITH MY SSI NUMBER SWITCHED OUT MY TID NUMBER WITH ANOTHERS AND PUT THAT PERSON TO WORK AFTER THE SWITCH STLLL HAVE NOT ALLOWED ME TO WORK WITH THE ATTACKS AND ALIENATION WITH THE LOCAL PUBLIC AND DID IT ALL TO STEAL BILLIONS I HAD IN FED RESERVE AND TRANSFERED OVER TO MEDICARE ACCOUNTS AND LAUNDERED IT THUS . A REAL NIGHTMARE GOVT CORRUPTION FROM MINNESOTA TO NEW YORK TO NEW MEXICO PREMERE LAW FIRM AND NMTRD EQUILS FRAUD…..ps new Mexico DistrictAttorneys office and the NMBAR SYSTEM AND POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE TARGETED ME FOR YEARS AND EVEN SET UP FAULSE CHARGES AND FORCED ME TO PLEAD GUILTY AND SO MUCH MORE FOR THIS MONEY I DIDNT EVEN KNOW I HAD AT FIRST . WELL NOW THERE IS NONE BUT THE COMMUNITY GOVT CORRUPTION IS ALMOST SEEMELESS AND THE VICTOMS ARE WELL I WANT TO SUSCIDE DAILY THANKS TO THIS WONDERFUL TORTURE LIVE BROADCASTING THE DPS IS DOING WITH MY PERSONAL LIFE….
marie a.
Yes that is so true, they called me twice, I do not answer those calls. Thanks for the in fo.
Thomas B.
Got a call from 719 212 4550 (listed as Cheyenne Wells CO,) stated he was with social security administration. When I asked a question about what office this was, he hung up.
A.C.
Hi, Thomas. 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.
Clyde L.
I believe that someone called me with a phone scam. Their phone number is 800-008-1498.
The recorded message said my SSAN was suspended because of fraud.
A.C.
Hi, Clyde. 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.
Janet K.
I just got an email that looks suspicious says to contact Jeremiah Williams at 1-866-431-3875 ext 31336-says need to talk to me about reviewing my earnings record and other benefits i may be able to receive. Is this a legit email?
A.C.
Hi, Janet. 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. 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!
LYMAN R.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS,
EXSPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY, THEY HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS
William M.
I just want you to know that they tried today to pull that scam on me. They called from phone number 203 781 6909. Hope it helps.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, William. 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.
Jannes S.
My name Is Jannes Sullivan
I got a call from Texas officer Lewis Marshall today concerning my social security number & my name was used buying a car which they find in Texas. On side road had blood in it plus drugs too in the car ugh what the heck going on I never been to Texas ever I told him …but my car was broken into month of 12 year of 2015 I called S.S office let them know too got new SS card & license replace too.. while going into a divorce police report was made my purse was in it & Christmas gifts too … nothing was done people did it never got caught ..Bessemer police made a report ..
years later by Then my truck got broken into purse got stolen pelham Alabama while I was at YMCA gym these people never got caught all this I told officer Lewis Marshall .. tried get my S.S card replace on line but couldn’t do it cause they said I had have get pass port I never heard of that ..
Trying get this straighten out .. Any way can help me figure out what’s going on ..
Looks like Officer from Texas trying charge me for drug tracking which I never been to Texas in my left…
A.C.
Hi, Jannes. 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.
Leslie
This just happened to me yesterday from a number in Dallas, ORThey asked me to confirm amounts in my accounts -but kept saying they couldn’t ask me for account or routing numbers, caught me off guard and kept assuring I wasn’t in any trouble but needed to cooperate with the Govt to shut the illegal accounts down. Luckily, I didn’t have any money so they couldn’t get anything anyway. I filed a complaint with SSA and made sure my lifelock was on. Pulled out the my BIG guns and told the LORD. If they try something, he’ll fix them better than anyone!