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. joseph p.

    please call me back 201 463 9269

    • A.C.

      Hi, Joseph. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue; therefore, we do not do private calls. We ask members in our Blog community to work with their local offices for specific questions about their cases. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We hope this helps.

  2. Lori A.

    I just received a phone call from 1-240-345-9221. It was an automated call from “officer Lisa Smith”. She says my SSN is about to be suspended for legal action. I believe this is a horrible scam. What do I do? Who do I notify? Thanks.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Lori. 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.

  3. Hal T.

    Received a call from 1-800-772-1515 a scam pretending a call from SSA.

  4. Elizabeth G.

    I am receiving calls regarding my Social Security is iidentity is in jeopardy. Please let me know via mail if this is real
    Thank you
    Elizabeth Glassman

  5. paul s.

    i got calls i at 4AM that my SS number is being blocked?? What gives

  6. Pete R.

    I got three back-to-back very strange phone calls this morning (12-21-2018), apparently from Social Security Administration. The message appeared to be digitally recorded, informing me that there appeared to be suspicious activity with my social security number. I was asked to call the following number, 209-779-5610. I did not return the call because I wanted to make sure this was not a scam, therefore I am contacting SSA to confirm this number.

    • K.O.

      Hello Pete, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.

      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 helps.

  7. Sandra A.

    Received a call 240-230-3192 and stated there was fraudulent activity on my social security number. How will I know? Can I protect my social security number?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sandra. 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.

  8. Diana O.

    I received a voice message on my cell phone threatening that If I don’t call back I could be arrested. I know it is a scam. The number is 1-740-281-1366 from Newark, OH

    • A.C.

      Thanks for letting us know, Diane. 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.

  9. James m.

    I have been the recipant of about a dozen calls this year stating my benefits will be stopped or I will be fined or jailed .I know better than to answer these calls one such number is 9163670067 how can these be stopped.what is the best course of action to take and should I report them

  10. Sheila

    Ive been getting many of these latley two have said for check fraud one for i beleive it said drugs i never abswer them i always listen to the voicemail not one has been even close to Social Securitys number nor have they ever left an extension number These calls re pretty much like the faje IRS Scams i continualky just block them all

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