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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James F.
I was bombarded this past week by impersonators trying to get me to provide ssn information. I told them that they were breaking federal statutes and anything they want to know they could ask OIG, I would tell them nothing.
I want to put an Electronic Block on my account and open an account that I can check periodically online.
Do you want the pictures of the phone logsI kept with the phone numbers that called? Can I open an account after I have been receiving SSN benefits for some years.
I am 74 yrs old.
A.C.
Hi, James. 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.
Diane E.
Received a phone call from this number (1-254-267-5393) from Ranger, TX according to my cell phone. The person on the phone told me to call this number (1-254-267-5393) that my Social Security was being tampered with. I did not call I call your office instead. Hope this helps and you get these people.
A.C.
Hi, Diane. Thanks for checking in with us. 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.
Joseph A.
I received a call stating that there was a problem and that I have to call a number before they took action against me. the phone number is 1-818-937-6738.
A.C.
Hi, Joseph. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. 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.
Samuel J.
I keep getting phone calls from a person with a heavy accent saying they are from the SSA and I am in violation for something and in grave danger of being arrested . I know that it is a scam and hang up on them, but I work nights and sleep days so it is a pain in the neck. It is a robot call in a female voice every time, she gives me a phone number to call which I do not do. but it still is a pain in the neck. Thank You for listening to me.
Velma H.
Received a robot call today from 717-288-5937 at 1:21 pm. It said that there was suspicious activity on my SS number and needed to call them back. I did not call them back.
A.C.
Hi, Velma. Thanks for letting us know. Keep in mind we do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. 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.
Cindy R.
Hi, I have received two calls today from (206) 208-5072, that say they are calling from Social Security and that a criminal action has been filed against my Social Security Account. It requested I call the number back immediately. I did not return the call.
March 24, 2019
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Cindy. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. 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.
gamal e.
I got a phone call from 3468185013 say there was illegal activity on my ss#
A.C.
Hi, Gamal. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. 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.
Hector N.
Received call at 1:23 pm from # 1-602-529-3518 from someone female that said was calling from Social Security to inform me that my account was being canceled and I inmediately hung up because i have been getting similar calls from other numbers and was told from a previous call I made to a # 1-800-269-0271that social security office do not call their members, ,,,I am making a report for your officre to check the number of the call I mentioned before ,
V.V.
Hi Hector. 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.
Mindy B.
I recieved phone call stating my ss card is suspended
V.V.
Hi Mindy. 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.
James N.
Just got a call from SSA officer impersonators claiming that fraud was committed on my SS# such as laundering. Heavy accent like an AT&T tech support with many voices in the background like telemarketing or something. their number is 1-518-800-4007
V.V.
Hi James, 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.