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.
John M.
Just received a call from this number I believe it’s a scam concerning social security 620-213-8493
Steve
Just got 3 calls in a row from 888-810-0509 saying that my SS# has been suspended and I need to dial 1 to talk to a rep. I get the rep and in a heavy Indian accent he is trying to ask my for my SS#…I can’t understand him and tell him that I don’t know what he is saying and finally is says “Go talk to yourself” and hangs up. Just like the IRS scams.
Philip F.
I’m a little disappointed. I received a scam call and wanted to report the number. My belief is that someone would welcome this and quickly track down the bad guys. I was told to come to this web site which then tells me to go to some other site. Look. Just add a section called. “Report Scam Call Number” on this page and I and other good citizens don’t have to wait and wait for the Bot menu to finally get us in order to speak with an associate. Thank you Oh the scam number was 1-800-918-5946. On screen name was Heavenly Maid and More.
Renetta M.
We recieved a message from automated systems saying they are with SSA and needing me to press 1 for information about the case that has been started. They called a business number from 888-810-0381.
V.V.
Hi Renetta. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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
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.
Teri
Robo call regarding my “SS number being flagged for criminal activity”. The recording left a message to call 301-264-8058. I called it and the man had an eastern indian accent and I could hear it was a call center by all the voice in the background.
V.V.
Hi Teri. Thank you for letting us know about the call. 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
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.
Don M.
if you get any calls with a 1-877 number or a 1-866 number its a scam. i received two calls from such numbers the first one was from a place called legal cell. i checked online and seen that there is a web page for them. so i thought it was a real call about my social security benefits. turns out when i tried calling them back at the 1-877 number it said i needed to add phone time to my cell phone… since i have the usa and canada calls for free on my cell i knew this was a scam. the number was outside the usa or canada.
V.V.
Hi Don. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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
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.
Denise M.
I have been getting calls stating that my SS# has been suspended due to suspicious activity. The person on the phone had a strong foreign accent and there was so much background noise that I was unable to hear him. He stated he was in Texas somewhere and asked for my name. I said my name one time, but he didn’t hear or understand and asked me again. Then I hung up. The number calling was: (888) 810-0342. Now, I see on my phone list that these other similar numbers also called: (888) 810-0317, (888) 810-1045.
V.V.
Hi Denise. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. 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
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.
Michelle L.
I received a call today from (813) 347-9824 with caller i.d. indicating Tampa, FL. It was a recorded message indicating I was to return the phone call because there was legal action pending on my social security. I disconnected from the call but it did bother me.
Suzanne M.
Just an FYI. I am receiving calls and voicemails from what I believe is a scammer from this number: 303-974-9331. The voicemail is an automated voice. Just info for your records.
Jennifer
I just received a call from 888 810 1045 saying that social security was suspending my number, The woman had an accent and there was a lot of noise in the background. Seemed very suspicious .
Denise
Same thing happened to me today! I have had three missed calls from similar numbers: (888) 810-0342, (888) 810-0317 and (888) 810-1045. I picked up one call and said my name, but then with all the noise in the background, I don’t think the man heard me and I hung up.
V.V.
Hi Jennifer. Thank you for letting us know about the phone call. 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
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.