Is that Phone Call From Us?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
It’s the morning of a busy day at home and you get a call from an unknown number. You answer only to find yourself on the receiving end of a threatening message saying your Social Security benefits will stop immediately unless you provide your personal information. It happens every day to thousands of Americans. And it’s not Social Security calling.
Scammers have many ways to lure their victims into providing information and then stealing their identities. Sometimes they call under a guise of helping you complete a disability application.
Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow. SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen confirm personal information over the phone. If you do receive a call from one of our representatives, they will provide you with a telephone number and extension.
The Acting Inspector General for Social Security, Gail Stallworth Stone, urges everyone to stay vigilant of impersonation schemes and to not be afraid to hang up.
You must always remember that you’re in control. Also remember that Social Security will never do any of the following:
- Call you to demand an immediate payment.
- Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
- Require a specific means of payment, such as requiring you to pay with a prepaid debit card.
- Ask you for your personal information or credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten you with arrest or deportation.
If you receive one of these scam calls or emails, do not provide them with any information. You should:
- Hang up immediately.
- For Social Security impersonations, contact Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
If you receive a notice from Social Security, please use the telephone numbers provided in the notice sent to you. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov for how to contact Social Security. Remember that scammers try to stay a step ahead of the curve. You can do the same by protecting your information.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Sandra B.
All I want to do is change my address and have my check rerouted to new bank. Why is that so hard to do?
V.V.
Hi Sandra, thanks for using our blog. You can change your address and direct deposit in your my Social Security account.
If you are unable to conduct your business online, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Catherine A.
To SS,
In the past 2 months I have received 3 phone calls that seem too be not the SSA calling. They were all from the same phone number and the same same on my caller ID. The phone number is 568-238-3607. The name on my caller ID appeared as Giuseppes, Pizza. The calls were very threatening regarding the SS benefits and that I would loose them if I did not contact. All three calls were a voice mall asking me to pick up the phone. Of course I did not. I thought that you might like to investigate this persons or persons that are doing this.
Sincerely.
Catherine Clarke
508-896-2157
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Catherine. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Sandy S.
Is 855-897-4927 ext.27734 really a SSA phone number? I received an e-mail asking me to call Mr. M. Mutima about my recent on-line application for Social Security Benefits. Thanks
Edgar G.
Phone number 337 303-8545 may be a scam. I received a phone call from this number a few minutes ago telling me there was an arrest warrant out for me for social security fraud. I immediately hung up and blocked this phone number and tried to report this to SSA. Not sure if I was successful.
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Edgar. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Kelly
Hi, I’m an insurance agent and guided my client on how to apply for Medicare online. She then received a letter stating that she had applied for social security benefits and needed to call 8669647317 and ask for Mr. McAskill. The letter looks very odd. Can you guys confirm if that is a SSA number?
V.V.
Hi Kelly, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. Your client can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or they can contact their local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
J M.
I got a call from 407-334-3517 stating that they see a fraudulent activity on my online account in Social Security should I call back or is this a scam call
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, J Morales. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Edna B.
I cant find where to report this phone number claiming they are the social security office, but they aren’t. It shows up BOLER, 228 365 1338. Biloxi, MS. I’ve got several call from this number already. Thank you
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Edna. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
donald b.
My name is Donald b. Mattke SS# *** – ** – *** D.O.B 5/18/1956. On Monday July 13th I received a call from someone saying that my benefits were being suspended because of fraudulent activity. The person said his name was Alex and I could not understand what his last name was and that his badge # was 417J 2741. I want to know if this is all true,
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Donald. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
StanleyW. F.
someone has called me saying they were from S.S admin. and that some one in Texas had made claims against my S.S# and wanted me to talk to an agent. I hung up. They called me on my home phone and my cell phone and again I hung up. Please advise what I should do
V.V.
Thanks for checking in with us, Stanley. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Anita
Is 866-964-7317 a legit number for SSA?