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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joan e.
I received an email from Donotreply@ssa.gov asking me to call the number (855) 249-4342
Is this a legitimate # for SSA?
A.C.
Hi, Joan. 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. You may call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Anna
I received a call saying that there was legal action pending against me and I needed to call them at 833 336 8211.
L.A.
Hi Anna. 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.
David R.
Received a phone call from someone that didn’t identify themselves only stating that they had detected fraudulent activity and have suspended my SS number to find out more press 1 to find out about this.
Phone Number given 406-686-1058
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, David. 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.
Carol R.
This is the Message I receive all the time.
Press one thank you this call is from the Department of Social Security administration the reason you have received phone call from our department is to inform you that we just suspend your Social Security number because we found some suspicious Activity so if you want to know about this case just press one thank you..
The number calling me is 1(206) 866-7700
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Carol. 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.
Stephen B.
Is (469) 656-6039 a valid social security phone number? My wife received a call from this number asking questions about her recent social security application. Please advise if this is a valid phone number for social security.
A.C.
Hi, Stephen. Please be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls. 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. Your wife may call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). We hope this helps.
Maggie
I’ve recieved two disturbing phone calls this morning with an automated message saying my social security number has been suspended for suspicious activity?! The phone number came from 858-788-1243, then from 858-788-1247. I was told to press 1, but I hung up. I’m pretty sure this was a scam, but will call back to the 800 number I have on file for SSI.
A.C.
Hi, Maggie. Thanks for letting us know. 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.
Tracy D.
i have recieved 2 calls past two days from numbers in texas 940-324-4531 and 281-968-5548 both claiming someone is using my ssn fraudulently and if i dont call back they will issue arrest warrant. I have called both numbers and cannot understand anything they say they speak in indian accent. should i be concerned?
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Tracy. 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.
Shelly R.
I received a call saying my ss number was used in connection with criminal activity in Texas and that they (SSA) was suspending my ss number TODAY and would issue me another one and transfer it to anything associated with my ss number, such as bank accounts, passport, etc.
I have received NOTHING in writing. I did get the ID #, the warrant #, person’s name, badge number and address in Baltimore, MD. I was disconnected during the phone call, and nothing else has happened. Is this real??
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Shelly. 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.
Chenna
Very disappointing. When you call the SSA, all you get is automation, and recordings. They make it very difficult speak to a human being. I finally just hung up the phone.
Chenna
I just received a call from (800) 072-3213 stating that my SSN was being suspended and all SS benefits have been stopped. How do these people get your number? It’s very unsettling.
A.C.
Hi, Chenna. 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.