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
call from (714)409-3009 is from a dental office in California
A.C.
Hi, David. 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. Thanks, again.
david
rec’d phone call from (714)409-3009.
is this a Social Security Admin phone number?
they stated there was a problem with my SS #
L.A.
Hi David. 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.
Saundra R.
I received a call from this number: (202) 741-9305. Here is the message: “Hi this call is from Social Security administration office my name is Officer Amanda Barnes ___ the purpose of the call we are trying to reach you to let you know that your Social Security number is been used for some kind of fraudulent activities in the south border of Texas so please in the order go ahead get more information to speak with ______ or press ____________ press one thank you and have a great day…”
I assume that this is not legitimate?
A.C.
Hi, Saundra. 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.
William P.
Phishing call again from 510-657-5127.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, William. 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.
Donna W.
I just received a call from 202 764 4022 saying that my number was used for fraudulent activity on the south border of TX.
I sent the call to voicemail.
A.C.
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.
April
I received a nessage from 800-162-6158 claiming thst my social security number is under investigation and my social security has been suspended. I have not returned the call and never will but I wanted to let your office know.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, April. 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. Thanks, again.
Rita K.
I keep getting phone calls telling me they need to talk to me about my disability or help me to get it im already on disability and I don’t need help and I have also been told they need to help me with something about my disability and it is very important that they speak to me. I have gotten several calls from Center Town, Greensburg and other places and they all tell me it is important to my case, I just tell them im not comfortable with this call or tell them I don’t need it and the just insist they talk to me so I just tell them im not talking to them about anything and then just hang up on them the numbers are 270-232-2377 and 270-405-8009 and others
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Rita. 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.
Angela K.
I received a phone message from 760-266-4389 stating they were from SSA and that my SS # had been used in or associated with criminal activity. Am I reporting this here or do I need another place to report it?
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Angela. 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.
Barbara B.
I received a voice mail on my home telephone saying that there has been some “suspicious activity” regarding my social security number, and that my social security number would be blocked if I did not take action and return the phone call. The number stated for me to call is 800-674-3746. Is this a scam?
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Barbara. 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.
Suzette B.
I recieved a call saying the ssa was suspending my number for suspicious activity
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Suzette. 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.