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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Elaine R.
They are always changing there phone numbers we get this call at least once or twice a month saying hi my name is Joe I am calling to update you on your recent disability claim that you filed And when you don’t respond they ask can you hear me okay.
Before it was my Home phone now they call on our cell phones. I don’t even respond I just hang up!
Ndayishimiye I.
Hello!it’s Isaac , i would like to thank Social Security Administration of United Sate of America for all the information they have send to me.Have good day, bye bye!
R.F.
We appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for your comment!
Ice
I could not make it after two heart attacks if it had not been for SSDI. We are not a socialist society, so anything they do for me I humbly thank you.
Ricardo R.
Question: If I go to live in Mexico after retirement, Can I have my Social Security monthly check, deposited in a bank in Mexico ( For example Chihauhua city )
I will appreciate your advise.
Thanks
Ricardo Rueda
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Ricardo. If you live outside the United States, unless a payment restriction applies, we can deposit your benefits into your account at a financial institution in any country that has an international direct deposit agreement with the United States. keep in mind that even when you get your Social Security payments by direct deposit, you must let us know your residence address. To find out which countries qualify, go to: Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States.
Mikhail T.
Its good i deal !
Wallace H.
Thank U so very much , I have received many such calls over the years
Ana M.
En que direccion de correo puedo yo verificar si me han enviado mi primer pago de pension.Ya van mas de 300 dias desde que notifique la perdida de la primera vez.
Saludos
Ana Maria Montero Leon
Santiago de Chile
R.F.
For any assistance related to your Social Security benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov or http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. For Social Security information in other languages, please visit us at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/multilanguage. We hope this information helps!
Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media.
Hank J.
Always good to know. Thanks for the updates
Anne H.
Not directly above this one, but it’s up there.
Anne H.
I am replying in regard to the message I SENT directly above this one. The message I originally received was essentially a blurb in support of SSA. I am thankful to receive SS but believe me, every penny I received was earned over and over again. It would help if you can tell me the exact date on which you began this policy. . Was it in 2017? If so, I want the exact date.
Melody A.
I hope many who receive this will take notice. I thank SSA for the update and will continue to remain vigilant ??