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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Janet P.
I have been receiving several calls a day saying that SSA has detected fraud on my account and they are suspending my card unless I call back right away. I hang up.
L.A.
Thank you for letting us know about these calls, Janet. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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.
Arleen C.
I have been getting calls and text messages from the number 800-917-7619 saying my social security number is being suspended. I know this is fraud they call everyday
L.A.
Hi Arleen. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or 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.
Michael B.
Do yall make phone calls about my social security number about being compraised
A.C.
Hi, Michael. Thanks for checking in with us. Keep in mind 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.
Geraldine C.
I received a phone call alledgedly from SSA. They left a voice mail stating that my SS Number was suspended. I think it was a scam.
A.C.
Hi, Geraldine. Keep in mind 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.
JB
I received a call supposedly from social security that my number had been suspended because it had been used for illegal activity. I was to call back to (469) 213-1016. We screen our calls so it was left on our messages today 5/21 about 11:10.
A.C.
Hi, JB. 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. Thanks, again.
Frances E.
Got calls from 18007889080. Said I needed to check my social security. Was it a valid call.
A.C.
Hi, Frances. 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.
BILL C.
I WAS CALLED MAY 17.2019 ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH MY SSA ACCOUNT. WHEN I CALLED THIS NUMBER 239-298-8599. A MAN ANSWERD WITH SUCH BROKEN ACENT I COULDN’T HARDLY UNDERSTAND HIM. IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS ASKING ME FOR A SOUTH 3 G NUMBER , HE MITE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MY SSA NUMBER , BUT HE WAS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND I’M NOT SURE. ANYWAY I AM WONDERING IF THE ABOVE PHONE NUMBER IS LAGET OR NOT.
patricia b.
I received a call today that seemed to be obviously a fraud/phishing type call, and have spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to report this to Social Security. Make it easier, will you please? Meanwhile, the message left on my cellphone was : ” This is Social Security, your benefits have been suspended. Select #1 on your phone for details.” I hung up without doing that, but wanted to report to Social Security the originating phone number that the call came from. It came from Dunkirk, NY: 716-413-0442.
Good luck finding these frauds.
A.C.
Hi, Patricia. We are sorry for your frustration. 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.
Patrick R.
May 17th 2019 1121
Phone call to Patrick L Roberts on new phone with new number.
Recording saying that my Social Security has been determined to have fraudulent activity.
I’m aware that if there were any issue with my benefits I would be contacted by mail.
I was able to keep this fraudulent number for you. 1-251-549-4949
Thank You.
Patrick L Roberts
Last Four of social : 0645
D.O.B 03:16-83
Robert W.
I received an eMail from SSA telling me to call 866-431-3875 before 5/21/2019 regarding my Medicare benefits. I don’t understand why SSA is eMailing me or how they got my eMail address so I am reluctant to call.
A.C.
Please be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, or email messages. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company. Avoid providing personal information unless you are certain of a person’s authority to have the information. Instead, you can contact us us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., to see whether we really need any information from you. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.