Inspector General Warns Public About SSA Employee Impersonation Scheme
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about a new Social Security Administration (SSA) employee impersonation scheme. SSA and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have recently alerted citizens about an OIG employee impersonation scheme and a scheme targeting former clients of Kentucky disability attorney Eric Conn; the agencies are now receiving reports from citizens across the country about other phone calls from an individual posing as an SSA employee. The caller attempts to acquire personally identifiable information from victims to then edit the victims’ direct deposit, address, and telephone information with SSA.
The reports indicate that the impersonator calls from a telephone number with a 323 area code. The caller claims to be an SSA employee, and in some instances, tells the victim that they are due a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of their Social Security benefits. The impersonator goes on to ask the victim to verify all of their personal information including their name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), parents’ names, etc. to receive the increase. If the impersonator is successful in acquiring this information, they use it to contact SSA and request changes to the victim’s direct deposit, address, and telephone information.
SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen confirm personal information over the phone. 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.
Acting Inspector General Stone continues to warn 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. “You must be very confident that the source is the correct business party, and your information will be secure after you release it,” Stone said.
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, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)
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Tags: fraud, Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, OIG
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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Edward H.
i just received a telephone call #410 317 4862…from a robert morris…he wished me to call this # or my SS# would be invalid
V.V.
Hi Edward: 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.
Mary p.
I received a call saying they were a officer from social security, and said I had committed socials security fraud? On benefits!. SCARED ME! And then i got pissted, shame on these people,
V.V.
Hi Mary: 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.
S M.
I received this phone message today 11/27 at 9:30am CST. It went to voice mail. I am not on social security.
from phone: 800-772-1218
message text: “…In case you feel this is an error, you may connect with legal cell [?] of Social Security Administration.
In order to connect with a Social Security Administration officer, press one now. In case we do not hear from you your Social will be blocked permanently.
To connect now, press one and you will automatically be connected with the concerned department’s official.”
The phone number is pretty close to SSA’s official number, but I’m assuming this did not not come from SSA. Is that correct?
Thanks!
R.F.
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.
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. Thanks!
Duke B.
Received a call earlier this afternoon (Nov 16) alleging to be from the SSA, stating that there has been fraud reported regarding my Social Security account, and that it is imperative that I call back immediately to 469-304-9014, and that if I do not, legal actions will be taken against me, and I will be arrested.
Now I know that this is fraud, and that the SSA never calls anyone with actions such as this, but I just wanted the Agency to obtain the telephone number I was “instructed” to call.
V.V.
Hi Duke. Thank you for being proactive and letting us know.
Nancy H.
received call from 302-202-3605 stating my social security was being ” frozen and to call back- I do not yet receive SS
Mary E.
Received a call on October 3, 2019 supposedly from deputy commissioner stating my social security had been suspended due to fraud — left number 240 207 6530 — I did not return call as I knew it was a fraudulent call.
R.F.
Hello Mary. 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. Thanks!
Julie
I received a phone call from someone claiming to be an employee verifying info as I recently applied for spousal benefits. I was traveling in Canada and the call came from Peru. When I called the number he left (a legit SSA number) and confronted him he gave me his name and agent # and asked me to call the SSA and verify. I did and they said he was legit. He called back and asked if I verified him. I said yes. He asked me my fathers middle name, my mothers middle name and the last 4 of my social. He told me to bring in divorce papers and my marriage certificate to my SSA office, which I did. Now I’m queationing if this guy was who he said he was.
Barbara R.
Does social security call to interview on saturdays
Pamela F.
Someone keeps calling me at the number 254 294 7237 wanting to know my disabilities and information on my health and personal info, I’m not sure who they are. Please help me.always pam
Marvis D.
Love this info and website
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/8958a.pdf