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. Richard R.

    My wife received a call from 855-807-8675 the caller was Ruby and said she needed to verify information for her medicare card that she just signed up for. Was this call legit? We did give information to the caller

    • K.O.

      Hello Richard. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees may 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.
      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. Please click here for more information. Thanks!

  2. Michael M.

    Received a call (In voice mail Friday 1-18-2019) stating that my benefits are on hold due to a problem.
    Caller asked that I call back at 266-867-4265.
    Voice mail is saved for now.
    I felt that it was a scam and confirmed in person (Hyannis 1-24-2019) that there are no issues with my account.

  3. Constance H.

    I was called by a, supposedly, Social Security representative. the number given was 646-693-1132, How can one know if this is a legitimate call? I was not asked for any information, only to call the above number.

  4. Kevin C.

    I had been trying to get in touch with a SSA person about getting my SS benefits I found a SS website and there was an option to receive a call back from you. They did indeed call me back in about an hour and said that the local SS office in Anderson IN would be getting in touch with me for a phone interview. They never have and its been about two weeks. Now I’m wondering if I’ve been scammed, they did ask me info about my personal info. How do I need to address this? Do they have such a service? It did show SSA phone number on caller ID.

    • V.V.

      Hi Kevin. Thanks for the question. We do offer that option in your my Social Security account. You can click on “Get Help” to “Ask a Question” or “Talk to an Expert” for a call back. To inquire about the appointment, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or contact your local office.

  5. ELIZABETH A.

    i received a call from 1800 772 1344, is this a legit call from SSI? please reply to me.

  6. Rachel C.

    So I’m pregnant I’m trying to set a appointment with obgyn but they saying Heath net is not cover it I was wondering if I could change Medicare plan to regular medi-cal or different plan can you call me back 530 443 1194

  7. Anthony S.

    You keep calling me and not giving me a chance to answer my phone before you hang up

  8. Jerome Z.

    I JUST RECEIVED A ROBO CALL THAT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND MY SS ANUITY COULD BE CUT.

    The recording insisted I call back immediately at (207) 734 8493. J.Z. 1/22/19

  9. Anonymous

    An robo call was received on my cell phone from 1-800-777-0127 from “Social Security” advising me that my social security card number and benefits were compromised and that all payments would be stopped. I was then asked to press “1” to speak with an operator, but of course, I hung up. Just a warning should anyone else receive calls from this number.

  10. Juanita K.

    I have received these calls too at the numbers listed below
    1(801)7721213
    1(406)5451401
    I didn’t answer them but , when I tried to call it back it said that call couldn’t be reached as dialed.

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