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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John M.
How is it that the FBI cannot track these scammers down? I just received another call from them 5 minutes ago. This time I pressed 1 to “hear more”. I was connected to a woman with a british accent who answered indicating that she worked with the SSA. I asked her how it was that the FBI had not found them yet. Needless to say she hung up the instant I mentioned the FBI. My question is, why can’t the FBI track these people down and charge them with false representation of a federal employee? With all of the existing sophisticated technology their original signal cannot be detected?
Jara S.
I have been receiving calls saying that warrants have been issued for my arrest about something having to do with my social security. Not sure what is going on.
Thank you
Kathryn A.
I spoke with your SSA office yesterday regarding the status on my retirement.
The male told me that it would be submitted to another office today and to expect a call for additional information. Within two hours I rec’d a call from 510-970-2380 and she left a messaging indicating that SSA needed more information. I called back and got a recording. I called again today and no answer. From what I can see from other posting this is a scam. This worries me that you might have someone working on the inside since the male to me to expect a call and then I rec’d one shortly after talking to him.
Please check into this for me
Thank you,
Kathryn Carpenter
Janet K.
I received a call from someone in Allen Texas (469)656 6039 claiming to be from social security with questions about my application. They asked for my social security number and other info such as my mother’s maiden name, mailing address and father’s first name. I provided the info. However, I see according to SSA webside, that no one will ever call and ask for my SS#. I waited on hold for over an hour to provide the phone number of this caller to the number provided on website you post to report these calls — 800 269 0271. Surprisingly, I was told that that SS doesn’t have a record of SS phone numbers and therefor can’t verify if this call was legit. (Why would you provide a number to call to confirm a call — when you can’t confirm a call?) Further, I was told to report a fraud — but don’t know if this was, indeed, a fraud. How can I verify the caller so I can be assured I did not provide info to the wrong person?
Linda T.
How do I report a scam telephone call who represents themselves as Social Security? I had 3 calls today from the same telephone number which was 800 674 3290.
Sawas
More security ought to be enforced to prevent scammer from easy access of damaging personal credit including ID confirmation of basic application. Secondly reporting scammer ought to be more responsive for guidance and advise. They do repeat calling with threatening words plus phone call which cannot be reached.
Brenda F.
Very informative and timely post. Thanks!
Daphne B.
I got a text saying my social security number is deactivated and said it was from social security. I didn’t think you would send that but it made me question if it was true.
A.C.
Hi, Daphne. 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.
Mary M.
Thank you. We just received a call today from and unknown number. We don’t answer these calls and let them go to our answering machine. The message was form ssa threatening arrest if we didn’t call them back. We didn’t and the law hasn’t come to put us in jail yet…LOL. The McFarland family Mary
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Mary. 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.
John R.
I just received a call saying they were SSS and that my social security number had been suspended and to press one to get details. This was left on my VM and I did not call back.
the phone number is: 877-444-7360
A.C.
Hi, John. 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.