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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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Zoe
Hi,
I just got a automated call from 202-516-6899 saying that it was the department of SS administration and that there was a legal enforcement action filed on my SS for criminal activity and that if I don’t call back on that # they will begin with legal proceedings.
Can you tell me if this is a scam or if this is legitimate according to the phone numbers?
Thank you!
R.F.
Hello Zoe. 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!
robert j.
i robert jones would like to get a call from social security about a letter i got
V.V.
Hello Robert. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot help you regarding your letter. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with an explanation. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. Thanks.
Dusadee K.
Today Oct. 26, 2018, an unknown person called from Arlington, VA , phone #(703)558-9313, he said he is social security officer and said that I’m on the list of car stolen and under investigation. He asked my social security number and I gave to him, he asked me how many bank accounts I have, credit card numbers and the balances, I’m sure that this is a fraud call so I didn’t give him. I want to report this scammers to Social Security that I gave my social security number to him and I don’t know his purposes. please advise what should I do? Thank you,
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.
Just a reminder — 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!
Marcus R.
I received a call from social office saying that had warrant from my arrest the call came from CA 424-501- 0975 Rafael
R.F.
Hello Marcus. 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. If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Kathleen R.
I tried to report this call, but ran into a 1 hour wait, that wasn’t going to happen, so I found this reply box. I received a call around 1:00PM PDT. The recording stated that something happened to my SS # and to call 240 2708351, I’m pretty sure that was the number given to call back. If I did nothing I would possibly be arrested. I immediately thought scam.
R.F.
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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Citizens may -also- report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
peter R.
I received message on my cellphone advising me to call 781-923-0694 because my benefits were being terminated
the S.
We have received 4 messages to call this number immediately because “your” SS# has been breached > 361-221-1313 < is this phone number legitimate? The caller says they are The Social Security Administration and does not name the particular individual who is in peril.
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 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 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Citizens may -also- report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Eileen A.
I received 3 phone calls today allegedly from Social Security stating that my social security is in jeopardy and that there is suspected fraud attached to my account. The first time I spoke to someone who wanted my information and I said “you called me you should know who I am” then hung up the 2nd and 3rd times I just hung up. I tried to call Social Security but was on hold for 37 minutes. Can you tell me if these are legitimate social security numbers or not? 239-203-2439 and 219-217-1013 ? When I tried to call these numbers back I got a msg from Verizon stating that the number cannot be completed as dialed. Please help! I am the representative payee on my husband and son’s account and we rely on this money
R.F.
Hello Eileen. 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!
Erica
Let me just say that the ssa is NOT doing their job. They made me wait 4 hours just to hang up on me without even an answer to my time sensitive issue. If I could sue I would for misconduct
R.F.
We apologize for the long wait, Erica. We may have been experiencing higher than normal call volume. Generally, when calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later during the week. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Remember that many services are conveniently available anytime at our website. Individuals can create a personal my Social Security account to get general information about our programs or manage their Social Security benefits. Also, we respond to questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs through our Blog and Facebook page. If you have a general question, we encourage you to ask here. But remember, never post personal information on social media.
We appreciate your feedback, and thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Charlie
I applied for medicare recently. Last week I received a phone call from a person named Usha Prasad, claiming to be a representative of the SS administration. She began asking personal information and my SS #. Albeit, I believe the application process indicated that I would be contacted by phone by the SS administration, how do I know if the call is real. I refused to give my SS#, until I could verify if the caller was from the SS administration. She said to call back on 885-807-8675, extension 5191. How do I verify this a real call back number of the SS administration or a scam? Is there a list of real telephone numbers on the SSA website?
V.V.
Hi Charlie, thank you for checking with us. Anytime you have questions about any communication – email, letter, text or phone call – claiming to be from SSA, we ask that you 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 7p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy. (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks!