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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
See Comments
About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Barbara V.
I have received several phone calls for this number 832-321-8923 the message left was that my ss was suspended. The one time I answered a man asked for my name which I did not offer I said if you are calling me you should know my name. He told me he was with SS admin and gave a badge number. I refused to answer his request for info and he hung up.
My neighbor also received such a call and upset her tso that she was moved to tears he was abusive and threatened her. This needs to stop.
Please help they are preying on us especially those confused by the fact that they act so official.
Robert B.
Threatening phone calls from SSA claiming to have me arrested for SS Fraud?…Two separate phone calls
323 530 1567 and most recent 4-4-2019 9:15 am
424 322-5481…Please advise
Thank you,
Robert Berry
2112 Cobblestone Manor
Modesto Ca. 95355
209 567 2788
robertxr6@att.net
Linda K.
have gotten 3 calls from same number saying there has beeb fraudualant (sp) activity on my SS card..Don’t think it is right but checking to make sure..the number calling is 469-296-3534..I have not called it
A.C.
Hi, Linda. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Debbie
I received a call from 800-772-7562 saying it was the SS Administration and they have suspended by SS# due to fraud. Is this a legit call?
Ana
I received a call from this number 877-191-1213 regarding my social security number been blocked for suspicious activity.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Ana. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Amy H.
My wife has been getting unknown phone calls about her numbers being used in false activity all numbers are 1888 numbers this needs to be stopped now.
A.C.
Hi, Amy. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Kathleen F.
I received 2 calls yesterday from a New York number 917-426-2638. Are they spam? I have never heard of any action like this.
I have them saved
on voicemail saying the following (from my visual voicemail):
Hi this is Officer Ryan calling you from the Department of social security administration have received his phone call from our department is to inform you that there is a legal enforcement passion filed on your Social Security number for criminal activities so when you get this message kindly call us soon as possible on our _________ _______ 174262638 I repeat ___74262638 before we begin with the legal proceedings thank you…”
This is a Germany area code
And the 2nd:
“From off the part is to inform you that there is a legal enforcement action filed on your Social Security number for criminal Tiffany so when you get this message kindly call us soon as possible long our number is 91742623__________ 91742262638 before we begin with the legal proceedings thank you…”
The number is 9174262638 when I listen to it.
A.C.
Hi, Kathleen. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Connie H.
Someone called today saying they were an officer of Social Security and she was talking about fraud she wanted my Social Security number and I refused to give it to her
lorraine m.
I have received over 6 phone calls that left messages for me to call back saying my ss number is being suspended. the phone number used is 325-399-0646. They left numerous messages on my voicemail. I deleted them and i just received another call not 5 mins ago. Is there anything that I should do?
GLORIA A.
EARLIER TODAY WE RECEIVED A CALL WITH A RECORDED MESSAGE, THAT SAID THAT MY SS NUMBER WAS BEING MISSUSED, AND WE HANG UP, IT CAME FROM A PHONE NUMBER : 1-888-810-5139.
A.C.
Hi, Gloria. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.