Inspector General Warns Public About SSA Impersonation Schemes
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2018
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about ongoing Social Security Administration (SSA) impersonation schemes. SSA and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have recently received several reports of suspicious phone calls claiming to be from SSA.
In one case, an automated recording states the person’s Social Security number (SSN) “has been suspended for suspicion of illegal activity,” and the person should contact a provided phone number immediately to resolve the issue. The call concludes by stating if the person does not contact the provided phone number, the person’s assets will be frozen until the alleged issue is resolved. In another case, a caller claims to be from “SSA headquarters” and waits for the person to provide personal information, such as an SSN, address, and date of birth. In January, the OIG shared similar information from the Federal Trade Commission, which reported an increase in reports of suspicious phone calls from people claiming to be SSA employees.
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 should 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. “Be aware of suspicious calls from unknown sources, and when in doubt, contact the official entity to verify the legitimacy of the call,” 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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Paul S.
I have received about 8 phone calls today from this Number, 410-441-5161. Claiming that my social security number has been compromised and that they are going to shut it down. Is there anyway to stop this? It’s becoming very irritating. Thank you.
Yvette D.
I recvd a phone call from supposedly the ssa. When I called back but refused to verify any info the person started to insult me asking for my bra size. I informed him that I would be reporting the number. Here is the number (202) 470-2441.
Mary A.
I have just received 2 phone calls from “David” at the SSA.
He claimed I would need to be at the local SSA office by two thirty today with two IDs. Or he could help me over the phone. This was to be sure I would receive my monthly check. I declined, told him I thought it was a scam, and hung up. I presume I did the right thing.
A.C.
Hi, Mary. We do not usually make random calls or request your personal information. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
Patricia S.
Your system has a glitch in it when the first is a holiday and the payments are made on Friday the 28th. Payment posted is counted as part of December money as a resource in January and can get some one denied even though payment already made. I’m cut off after more than 20 years being listed as over 2,000 on January 1, 2019 by counting my January payment as left over from December 2018. It was decided by system on the 4th yet it did not check to see what was spent on first through fourth like rent utilities food etc. greatly reducing the number to within limit. Out broke cut off lost Medicaid sick 61 many disabilities long term including heart and seizure issues now strained to limit. I’d go to hospital but no insurance they would not take me as patient. Don’t you allow for medical transportation and burial funds. I ok in limits even with money saved for final and medical transport but not if current payment counted as resource the second I get it. It’s a system error. But it kicked in on the 4th. Why?
gail d.
I received a call on January 11th threatening that we will no longer receive Social Security benefits for my son who has autism. Said she was going to terminate our policy. She was very rude and at the end of the call hung up which is not usually the way we’ve been talked to by the SSA Herod I am worried since my son is moving and will be on his own and if they cut him off will be in trouble with debt and benefits. But do I do about this. Please call myself Gail Dobkin at 605-569-2328 or a my husband Daniel Isaac Dobkin at 6:05 569 114 6 we are the Guardians and have guardianship over our son Daniel David Dobkin hello. Please let us know what we should do. Every phone number that they called from was disconnected the following day. I am worried as my son is moving in 3 weeks to another state and will not be able to receive his benefits due to these calls. Please contact my husband Daniel or myself kale at the numbers I have given. Thank you so much for your attention to this matter as this is very imperative at this time to have information on this
A.C.
Hi, Gail. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls or request your personal information. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
Kenneth B.
I received a text and it claimed that my benefits were being cancelled. I believe that this was a fraudulent call attempting to get information. When I asked the person that called for their phone number and employee number they hung up. I want to be sure that all is OK with my SS Account and would like conformation that there are no problems. Thanks in advance Ken USMCRet
A.C.
Hi, Kenneth. We do not usually make random calls or request your personal information. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
David T.
I received a phone call from a person claiming to be from an enforcement division of the Social Security department. He knew my name, date of birth and home address. He claimed I have committed fraud and that I would be arrested within 48 hours if I did not cooperate with him. He wanted my social security number in order for me to find out the charges. The phone number he gave was 202-738-1699. He said he was located in Texas but the caller Id indicated Washington, dc.
V.V.
Hi David, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/ig-warns-public-about-fraudulent-phone-calls-threatening-arrest-or-legal-action/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Lindsey R.
This is my second attempt at creating my own social security account and still it suspends my information and locks me out for no explained reason. Then my only option is to contact your local office by phone which I’ve had a stressful time waiting to get through to one of your workers from the contact number listed. It just seems a little much to go through to get in contact with someone and your only office is about 45 minutes from my home a
with no transportation. As well as finding direction on how or where to receive the information connected to my QR code and G code
Ann b.
Received a phone call about my social security from Texas phone no 2102099372. Is this fraud.
A.C.
Hi, Ann. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls or request your personal information. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
W.M.Jorissen
I received a telephone call saying he was from S.S. (a recording actually) and it had your telephone number(1-800-772-1213) saying I had multiple lawsuits against my S.S. number. I hung up!! I don’t believe you make telephone calls,,,