Frauds & Scams

Is that Phone Call From Us?

October 30, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: August 19, 2021

woman talking on the phone 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Robin

    I have just received a call stating they were with the SSA. They requested I call them back at this number 315-220-0241. The recording threatened to have me arrested. By the way they called the Global Corporation that I worked for.

  2. Leslie G.

    I received a call this morning (7-30-19) from a recording that said my SS # has been permanently deactivated. I thought this was strange since I had just spoken with SS yesterday at 10:00 a.m. (it was a phone appointment I had made from SSA). The number of the caller was 1-800-104-0259. I just wanted to make you aware of this number so you can add it to your list of numbers making fraudulent calls stating they are from SSA.

  3. Sam D.

    Received a call about some strange activity in my SS account. I needed to answer some questions.

    The Phone # was out of New York
    (716) 322-2085

    I called the # back and receive an answer and also received some very harsh words, these appear to not be Americans.

  4. Fred C.

    received a call today saying my social security was changed message said to punch 1 and reply
    number is 1 833 972 4962

  5. felix

    I received a call claiming they where SSI. I would like to speak to someone concerning this. 1.562.500.9673

  6. John H.

    Keep getting a call saying my Social Security number has been suspended and they want me to call them @ 325 400 5746 they have called every hour since 8 am hope this helps you get them thank you

  7. Anna B.

    I received a phone call from Hockessin, DE of an automated voice requesting that I call a phone number. I want to know if this is from social security or not. This was the phone number: ‭(302) 509-2304‬

  8. Emory H.

    I got a call from 1-866-366-9549 saying my social security card had been suspended due to suspicious activity.

  9. Kathy D.

    Lately, I have been receiving multiple calls from a social security scammer telling me arrest is imminent for fraudulent activity on my Social Security number, I should get a lawyer, and immediately call them back at 828-820-1117. That phone number is issued out of North Carolina to a person—no name available in reverse phone number look-up. They have called at least five times in the past two days. I’m getting tired of my phone ringing with threatening news!

  10. Gweneth H.

    I got one of them calls and I’m afraid I gave them to much information. Don’t know how to make sure my identity is not complete destroyed. Can you help me know what to do.

Comments are closed.