Inspector General Warns Public About OIG Impersonation Schemes
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: October 10, 2018
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about an ongoing Office of the Inspector General (OIG) impersonation scheme. The OIG has recently received reports from citizens about suspicious phone calls claiming to be from the Acting Inspector General.
The reports indicate the caller identifies as “Gale Stone” and states the person’s Social Security number (SSN) is at risk of being deactivated or deleted. The caller then asks the person to call a provided phone number to resolve the issue. Citizens should be aware that the scheme’s details may vary; however, citizens should avoid engaging with the caller or calling the number provided, as the caller might attempt to acquire personal information.
The Acting Inspector General urges citizens to be 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 the Acting Inspector General or from the OIG, you should report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
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Tags: fraud, Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, OIG, SSN
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Patricia S.
I have received several calls from 281-532-8412 indicating that they need a call back or legal action will take place… I did call the number and they answer
“social security office” Is this legitimate or a scam?
V.V.
Hi Patricia, thanks for checking with us. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Patricia A.
I just read a comment apparently from someone who works in the SSA office saying to contact the OIG at 1-800-325-0778 regarding fraud and other suspicious calls regarding termination of benefits because of abuse, etc. This is a TTY number and I was redirected to 1-800-772-1213, which is a big joke. What is going on? I do receive a small SSA check from when I worked. ON ONE wants to respond to the emails or phone calls.
V.V.
Hi Patricia.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Patricia A.
I have tried to contact personnel at the Social Security Administration AND the Office of the Inspector General regarding the phone calls I have received today (3-14-2019) telling me that my social security payments will be discontinued because of some weird activity. It is now 2:30 pm and I have received TEN such calls since 8:29 am. I tried filling out the questionnaire without success. The telephone number for this abuse is 1-800-625-0778. It is a recording with instructions to dial 1 for more information.
Diane M.
I have received calls from a Redwood number 650-530-7227within the last week , sometimes twice a day. The person states that there is a “crime concerning my SSA ” and I should call them back.
I have called each of the numbers listed on your answers and they send me to another menu to get help. Some of the numbers just ring and ring. These calls are annoying and there should be a clear “1 dial” number where we can report this type of call. I am 72 but know not to respond to these calls. Worked for State of CA. There are a lot of people who just follow along and get into the “menu express.” and get into trouble. I am going to block this number and then will have to find me!
V.V.
Hi Diane, thanks for letting us know. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Nancy L.
I just received a call from a prerecorded number saying that my SS # had been ‘taken over’ or something to the effect. Caller ID was spam? Cypress T. They wanted me to call their number, 832.220.5698 which was also on the caller ID so they could help me straighten this out or there was a possibility that I would no longer receive SS payments.
Clearly, this is a scam. Obviously, I will not call them. It would be great if you looked into these bad guys!!hanks
V.V.
Hi Nancy, thanks for letting us know. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Sandra A.
Just today, I’ve, so far, received four phone calls from someone calling themselves “Gale Stone” and asking me to call them back at 1-833-871-8721. I have not, or will I, call them back. I’m glad I have an answering machine for these irritating calls, but just wanted you to know that, apparently, there are still insane people out there trying to scam older people. I’m 73 and really tired of these morons thinking I’m that stupid. Hope you can get these idiots off the phone calls.
V.V.
Hi Sandra, thanks for letting us know. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
UnaFern E.
i was called by phone # 1-800 542-1213 – identifying themselves as social security fraud line. I blocked them immediately.
V.V.
Hi there. If the caller is claiming to be from Social Security—it is critical that you pay attention to the tone and content of the message from the caller. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or they threaten that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, we urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account information. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you, and never send the stranger money via wire transfer or gift cards.
Social Security employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information or pay a fee. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Graciela C.
I received a call saying that my number will be discontinue and my benefits cancel. I should speak with an agent from socialsecurity office and to do that press 1. The number of the person that call is 1(443)349-1212
J.Y.
Thank you for your comment. 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. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone. If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please contact your local Social Security office. You may also call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which receives and analyzes public complaints related to identity theft, recently reported to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) an increase in reports of suspicious phone calls from people claiming to be SSA employees.
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.
Dottie H.
I got a call from some foreigner telling me there was criminal activity on my social security card, and it was being cancelled. But they did not leave a social security number and when I called back they asked me for that number. So i’m Suspecting fraud. I do not know if he was trying to get ahold of me or my husband. The number they told me to call was 1-678-810-3202. Please let me know if my card or my husband’s card is being cancelled. My name is Dottie H. Leichliter and my husband is James E. Leichliter
Phyllis G.
3/7/2019 I have received 6 telephone calls with a recording stating my ss# has been suspended due to suspious activity and to press 1 for case information. I have not pressed 1 but hung up. I am getting these calls from 3 different numbers. 866 4047389, 866 404-8329, 866 404-8432. I checked with local SS office and was told to report this information. These calls have been coming all day, getting very upset.
A.C.
Hi, Phyllis. 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 find additional information here. We hope this helps.