Inspector General Warns Public About Social Security Advisory Board-Related Scam
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 17, 2019
The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public about a new variation of increasingly common government employee impersonation scams, this time involving the Social Security Advisory Board. The Advisory Board has reported that individuals are receiving scam phone calls displaying the board’s phone number on caller ID. The callers are reportedly attempting to obtain personal information, including Social Security numbers. If you receive this type of call, you should not engage with the caller or provide personal information or money in response to requests or threats.
These callers are employing tactics similar to impersonation schemes involving the IRS, SSA, and the SSA OIG. Inspector General Ennis advises that callers may use a variety of false scenarios or threats to obtain personal information or payments, often requested through gift cards or prepaid debit cards.
However, the Social Security Advisory Board typically does not contact the general public to request personal information over the phone. Moreover, government employees will never threaten you to obtain personal information or payments. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.
“This caller-ID spoofing scheme has unfortunately evolved to include the Social Security Advisory Board, but it is the same type of scam, attempting to mislead people by using the trusted name of Social Security,” Inspector General Ennis said. “I encourage everyone to alert your family and friends about how common these scams are, and to be very cautious when speaking with unknown callers, even if you recognize the caller ID.”
Inspector General Ennis urges the public not to provide sensitive information over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it. You should also never wire money or add money to a prepaid debit card to pay for any official government service.
If you receive a suspicious call, you may report that information online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report or by calling (800) 269-0271, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams: https://identitytheft.gov/ssa.
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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S.
I received two calls yesterday leaving voicemails: saying that some department is filing lawsuit against me and arrest warrant has been released on my name due to legal enforcement actions filed on my SS # for me to get more information on this case file and warrant from federal database speak to a rep by pressing 1. the caller ID just said UNKNOWN, and I do not answer calls that I do not know, they can leave a message or it must not be important. obviously this is very much like the threats when they used the IRS.. thanks for just putting the warning out there, sadly some people get sucked in.
B. C.
We received a call today from supposedly SS Admin. telling us that we’re OUR SS no. in a fraudulent manner. We didn’t answer the phone but they left the above message for us and wanted us to call them back…of course we didn’t do that…but the number they wanted us to call was: 330-475-7179. Thought this would be of interest to you.
A.C.
Hi. Thanks for checking in with us. 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
D. G.
I received calls from the numbers listed below about someone that my number and I needed to call them. The other called stated I had committed some kind of fraud call them in texas. I have not returned any calls and I am waiting for Marshall to arrest me. 1-855-214-7632 ssa and 425-318-7014 texas
April H.
All right going to respond to this I received two calls 1 January 17th of this year and one just recently May 8th and this was one of the numbers that I received telling me my social security number was suspended just so you know this number is still active and they’re claiming that they are Social Security Administrative investigators however they are not I caught them in the act when they contacted me trying to tell me that my social security number was suspended and then they asked me what my social security number was when I explain to them I said well you contacted me if you need my social security number why are you asking me if you’re with the Social Security Department you should have that number so therefore I’m just letting the public know that this number is showing up under the scams that are going around through the Social Security Administration and therefore be on the lookout because I know some of the the elderly out there that receive disability cannot afford to lose what they have thank you for your time and patience and I hope that this helps many of you out there 2403895433
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, April. 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Norma K.
I got 2 calls today from a 1-877 number saying my SSN was suspended because of suspicious activity, then asked me to press 1 to talk to a representative. These were messages in my voicemail because I never answer calls from unknown numbers.
Norma K.
I got 2 calls today from a 1-877 number saying my SSN was suspended because of suspicious activity, then asked me to press 1 to talk to a representative. These were messages in my voicemail because I never answer calls from unknown numbers.
V.V.
Hi Norma: Thank you for letting us know about these calls. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at http://www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here http://www.identitytheft.gov/SSA.
RONALD B.
I have received 3 calls this morning on my cell phone with a message claiming to from SSA telling me I needed to call 6069074363 immediately due to an issue with my social security. I did not call the number.
V.V.
Hi Ronald: Thank you for letting us know about these calls. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at http://www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here http://www.identitytheft.gov/SSA.
Robert E.
do not xcept calls from1-866-949-5157.
V.V.
Hi Robert: Thank you for letting us know about the call. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at http://www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here http://www.identitytheft.gov/SSA.
Mr J.
Dear Mr Cannarsa: Thx for helping protect us from criminals. I just got a strange voice mail from tel no 1-802-723-0251, Island Pond, VT (?): “We just suspend your soc. sec. # bec. we found suspicious activity. This is SSA please call us back option 1”. Pl forward to appr. office/agencies. Thank you for your help. Mr Joaquin C. Armendariz. PS: Many retired folks could be trained to use cyber tools to augment various agencies efforts against these criminals. Just a suggestion.
V.V.
Hi Joaquin: Thank you for letting us know about the call. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at http://www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here http://www.identitytheft.gov/SSA.
Steven C.
I received a phone call that stayed my ss acoustic has been suspended for suspicious activity. What should I do
V.V.
Hi Steven. Thank you for letting us know about the call. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at http://www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here http://www.identitytheft.gov/SSA.