Frauds & Scams

Is that Phone Call From Us?

October 30, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: August 19, 2021

woman talking on the phone 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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Comments

  1. Christie T.

    I received a phone call from social security around 6p.m on 11/27/2018 Didn’t hear anyone on other end . My number is 731-518-5325 Did y’all call me,if please let me know before I block the number have been receiving different 800 numbers all day. Thank you .

  2. Anna N.

    I received a call from Washington DC saying my social security was in trouble
    They are going to cancel my ssn.. Is that possible? The number they used was 202-991-7594

  3. Deborah Y.

    I recieved a call that SSN has been compromised. I was to press a number to speak to a officer. I felt this is a scam so hung up. They had said I need to apply for a new number. I had someone use my social for taxes. When the IRS contacted us, I checked them if we need to get a different ssn. I was told they never change your SSN .

    • R.F.

      Hello Deborah. 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.
      To learn about the events that may cause us to assign a different number, visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page. Thanks!

  4. Corinne (.

    I am concerned that this is a scam about receiving a new Social Security card & I have not done that yet. I have however heard people talking about receiving new cards & I just rec’d the above letter so I am confused. Would you please help me with this matter?

    • R.F.

      Hello Corinne. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), started to mail new Medicare cards to people with Medicare benefits in April 2018. They plan to replace all existing Medicare cards by April 2019.
      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.
      We hope this information helps!

  5. Linda J.

    I just received a call from 8505121867 staying my social security would be suspended it I didn’t call this number back. Is this a valid social security number? Do I call back?

  6. Bettycardwell

    Dyouthreatenpeopleonthephonethattheyowemoneyandwillbesued?

  7. Adalberto S.

    I have not received a benefits statement from the social security administration for over 10 years. I want to know how much money I have saved. Call Back number 915-226-1973

    • R.F.

      Hello Adalberto. You can get your personal Social Security Statement online by using your my Social Security account. For more information, click here!

  8. Mary E.

    I believe that I received a fraud call from SSA the number call was from:SSA and unfortunately,gave my SS card number. What should I do?

  9. Donald W.

    I received this today..is it legitimate?
    Dear DONALD EDWARD WEGNER

    Please call our office before Monday, December 3, 2018 and ask for Serafin M. The telephone number is 877-593-3955 ext.60423. We need to talk to you about:

    Reviewing your earnings record

    The month you can begin receiving benefits.

    When you call our office, please have this letter with you. It will help us to serve you more quickly.

    Social Security Administration

    • V.V.

      Hi Donald, thank you for checking in with us. If you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business pending, this letter is probably related to that business.

      However, anytime you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, you should 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).

  10. Laurelie N.

    I received 3 call from someone who said that my Social Security Card may have been disabled and to call immediately or my monthly benefits could be stopped. If I did not return a call to 956 887 0955 immediately my benefits will be stopped until the issue ( which was not exactly stated ) was resolved. This same message was received at 5:45 AM , At 7:35AM, and again at 6:36 PM.
    I did not respond period. Sounded like a robo call with several different voices. One Male and two female, all with very good English language skills.

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