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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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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DAVID M.
I recieved a call stating my ss acct was suspended. Will ss office call me for that?
A.C.
Hi, David. 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. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Robin P.
I received a message stating that it was Social Security calling about fraud on my account. When I tried to call the number, a Pennsylvania number, it said my call could not go thru. I am fairly certain this is a scam.
Any ideas?
Thank you
R. Parker.
A.C.
Thanks for checking in, Robin. 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.
Jeorjana M.
I received a voice mail on my cell phone from (325) 200-0489 re: number for fraudulent activities to get more information about this case file an arrest warrant from the federal database call immediately at our headquarters (left # above to call) Social Security deputy officer is waiting for your call back.
Is this a legitimate phone call from the SS Admin or a Scam?
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Jeorjana. 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. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Robert G.
What would be so bad about having a real person available to answer phone calls. By the very nature of SSA, you are dealing with senior citizens who may or may not be able to clime through the hoops of eltronic telephone answering machines. I need a simple question answered and wanted to provide SSA with information on a fraud call.
It is time to unplug the computer and hire a few more humans
Bob Collin
Nancy P.
my google voice number keeps getting messages from someone that says they are from Social Security and they wish to have me call this number 855-752-5260 for an important employment survey. (240) 453-5600 is the number that shows up in the Google voice as the originating phone number. This sounds phishy to me. Can you verify?
Diane C.
Phishing scam demands a call back or will suspend your SSN. Leaves a voice mail.
760-369-8136
David F.
I have a RoboKiller recording from a spam caller that is particularly pernicious, and I would be happy to forward it to you for tracking down and putting these folks out of business. To whom should I send this recording?
V.V.
Hi David, thank you for using our blog. You can report the suspicious call to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
russ
I received a phone call from the number 512-377-6220 purporting to be from the Social Security Administration, informing me that there is an enforcement action against my SS number for an illegal activity and to return their call at the number 512-377-6220 to discuss the matter.
V.V.
Hi Russ, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our most recent blog post:
Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number
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.
MR
I have received an automated phone message from (510)984-4532 saying “This is the department of Social Security Administration Office. Your SSN has been suspended because of a suspicious activity. If you want to know this case press 1. Thank you”.
I did not press any number neither return the call because it sounds scam.
Just want to report it hoping this scammers will be out of business.
Catherine B.
I have just received a phone call regarding my SS number, the phone number was 1-804 715-1101, is this a legitimate number?
V.V.
Hi Catherine, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our most recent blog post:
Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone Number
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.