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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Grimtitan
+1 (877) 417-3222 Called me and said they were social security office and there was fraud on my account but it was a recording. I called it back and when I ask about recording he hung up.
Pat C.
I received a phone call from a NY phone number 646-480-0548 with an automated voice telling me my “account “ was suspended for suspicious activity. I believe this is a scam. Maybe someone could look into it.
Edward H.
Cannot find phone number for social security office at 2901 alta mesa fort worth texas. Can yo email it to me please?
L.A.
Hi Edward. You can find information on your local office by visiting our office locator. Generally, we do not publish the phone numbers of our local offices, but you can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps!
Sandi W.
I received a call saying that my social security account had been compromised, and I needed to press “1” immediately. There was fraudulent activity on my account. Needless to say, I didn’t fall for that, but this is the phone number.
1-347-282-2323
Sandi Wagner
A.C.
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.
Clarence D.
I filed for SSA.
I did receive a direct call from SSA, from a number in Boston that did not identify itself as SSA.
They asked for my SSN, which I would not provide. They provided a callback number via my gmail account which also seems insecure.
The extra information on GMail verified that it was from SSA.gov, but I was still suspicious.
That email included a callback number that isn’t listed as SSA in any public document.
I called the publicly listed number for SSA 1-800-772-1213 and elected to receive a callback.
That callback came from a Texas number, also not marked as SSA, but it included my greeting to myself, recorded by me when I request
ed the callback.
This was all legitimate, but seems horribly insecure in today’s environment.
Once I provided my SSN, the agent obviously had information that no scammer would have.
Messages should be passed via the secure inbox at secure.ssa.gov. I’m not even sure I can trust a piece of paper received in the mail.
All of the phone numbers should be verifiable in an app at SSA.gov, since there is no listing of local numbers.
James A.
I received a phone call and voice mail from 209-883-6478 Hughston, CA. the voicemail instructed me to call them back at that number, and that there has been some illegal activity associated with my ssan. I find this harassment upsetting.
A.C.
Hi, James. 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.
Joyce B.
I am a 77 year old widow in Alabama. I have been receiving phone calls threatening me with jail unless I contact a number with the Social Security Administration.
Needless to say I have not responded. If you would like the number they left please email me at the address below.
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Joyce. 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.
Douglas H.
I received an email and a letter asking me to call Susan Lucero at SSA in Salinas, CA (855-249-4175 ext. 4015052). I was instructed to leave my SS# on the phone message if no one answers when I call. Above I read that SS will never ask for my personal info over the phone. Could this be a scam? What should I do
A.C.
Hi, Douglas. Generally, Social Security will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with the agency. 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. If you are unsure about the identity of someone claiming to be a Social Security employee, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to verify the authenticity of the person who contacted you or contact your local office. Thanks.
Valencia G.
I keep getting calls from this phone number claiming to be Social Security Office 1 510 112 7904
veronica l.
I am getting calls that my social security number is being used in South Texas, how do I confirm that someone is not using my social security number?
A.C.
Hi, Veronica. 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. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). In addition, you can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union). To order your credit report go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. For more information, check out our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number . We hope this helps.