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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Jacqui T.
I am receiving phone call from 325-999-8863 consistently leaving a message that my social security account has been used in a fraudulent activity…when I called back the phone # and a person answer Social Security Admin, I said “what is this call about” because I have spoken to SSA and was informed that they don’t make these kinds of calls”, the person then hung up.
Did I do the right thing?
L.A.
Thank you for letting us know about these calls, Jacqui. 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.
Bill T.
I am in Chicago. I received such a call from 1-985-284-4174 identified as being in Amite, LA, just five minutes ago pretending to haul me in front of a magistrate…. I knew it was a fraud of course, but called back to see what I’d get. I got an Indian (from India) voice answering as if it were then Social Security Administration. When I asked if this were the UNDER Government, they hung up.
L.A.
Hi Bill, and 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.
Melody H.
Received a call from 806-205-5445 from Clarendon, TX from Officer Catherine Richardson claiming that our ss# was involved in fraudulent activity and to call them back.
L.A.
Hi Melody. 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.
Charles L.
Received a call saying my social security number was suspended due to fraud . Said push one to talk, lady answered saying Social Security how can I help you.
I responded , You called me. She hung up.
L.A.
Hi Charles. 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.
neil b.
Hello, I have received 3 calls indicating my SS number has been suspended because of fraudulent activity. I was instructed to call 774-202-9822 and the last call was my last chance. I have no clue if this is a real call or not
Earl a.
This number has been harassing me 850-266-9545, telling me fraud i submitted, false and press one, a foreign man comes on how can I help you.
L.A.
Hi Earl. 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.
Denny G.
I would like to report this number passing themselves off a Social Security. I received the call at 5:04 MST in Roswell, NM. 516 300-9945
L.A.
Hi Denny. 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.
Robert B.
Received a call from a SS inspector re criminal complaint. Mr Shaw badge # 713J2741 had my SSN & Addrerss. Found no way to confirm or deny this info on line. A call to your phone service yielded me a robot with several questions and an hour & 1/2 wait on hold. The many on hold messages about SS’s concern is pure crap. I realize this is a busy organization. In that case you should hire enough people to support your mission. It’s obvious that those it the head of the SS don’t give a damn.
L.A.
Hi Rorbert. 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.
JoAnn W.
Received a call from Social Security stating my SS# has been compromised the # was 702-602- 7940 , they are in Houston ,TX and I am in Pittsburgh PA.
Any chance this was a real call or a scam, no information was given just hung up. I have received 3 of these calls in the past week.
Thank you,
L.A.
Hi JoAnn. 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.
Thomas S.
I received a suspicious letter from the SSA directing me to call them at a specific phone number. It seems it should be simple for SSA to provide a means for validating phone numbers, but apparently not. In any event I’m totally paranoid about calling that number as it’s not listed as a SSA number and entering it into the google brings up other references that it is a scam. Calling the default SSA phone # puts me in a 50 minute queue. Awfully stupid to have to wait 50 minutes to validate a phone number.