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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Linda C.
Received phone call. They left voice mail saying that my Social Security # has been suspended.
From 646-25785785. Checked online dialed back number doesn’t
L.A.
Hi Linda. 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.
Dennis S.
received phone call from a person saying (a can message), their from SSA and that my account was stopped. Then I hung up.
The phone # the call came from.
866-569-9715
Please destroy their phone #.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Dennis. 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.
Melody A.
I just got 3 phone calls (2 from unknown & 1 from restricted)…they left 2 messages that they were the Social Security Administration & that my SSN had been suspended due to suspicious activity…
I think that you need to have a method of taking calls about fraud quickly (while they are continuing to call) so that maybe the phone company or law enforcement can track down phone centers that scammers use in real time – right now – instead of whenever this note gets read. Is that possible???
Yvonne w.
Hi I’m Yvonne woods I’m trying to log on to my account at ur website I’m having problems logging in I need some one to call me so I can get it straighten out
Ronald E.
I have been receiving calls purported to be from Social Security from the following numbers:
866-891-3039
866-841-3644
866-453-2380
On one call I responded. When a person asking if she was talking to “Ronald” I replied yes, whereupon the person hung up.
Please make your formal on-line reporting form simpler and easier to use. Right not it’s daunting!
Susan P.
These calls come every day.
Phone #: 1-866-593-4872
or 1-866-593-1519
I’m so tired of blocking their calls. They just use a different number
A.C.
Hi, Susan. 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. We hope this helps.
corinne a.
I have received two call about “illegal activity” on my SS #, from Hackensack NJ from “officer Ryan Smith” from 201-464-0713 not calling back! SCAM!
A.C.
Hi, Corinne. 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.
Corinna H.
I got a phone call this morning from a number 1800-189-9451,they left a message and said my ss number has been suspended due to suspicious activity
A.C.
Hi, Corinna. 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.
C. H.
Is this a legitimate number to return a call? 866-964′- 7317. Ext29228
A.C.
Hi. 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. If you are ever 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. We hope this helps.
Zaiga S.
My father has received 7 calls from Russian prefix numbers today 7650477093, 7650647111, 7650516165, 2425926777, 7650940830 and 7650844405. He is 81 years old. This is an outrage and out of control. Technology of today needs to stop till safeguards are in place. Russia and other countries are laughing and slapping us due to the lax security our country has. Knowing it’s a worldwide problem we need to be more vigilant. With all due respect.