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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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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kelly s.
I am waiting on the telephone for days .just to get a phone number that is in use now,the paper I received has a number to call,but it is out of service.????
Christopher E.
been getting a lot of calls and messages from WACO, TX saying they are agents of the HQ of social security,
when actually the HQ of social security is in Maryland.
This is officer blah blah blah and your social security number has been compromised, you must call for us to remedy this situation.
Chad T.
The latest scam is call by automated service claiming your social security number has been used in an illegal activity or maybe compromised.
Maureen O.
Just received a call from 903-284-2431, telling me my SSN is committing illegal activity in the state of Texas. I don’t live there, haven’t been there for a few years.
R.F.
Hello Maureen. SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employees may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks.
Robin H.
I called social security office said nothing can be done which I think is completely wrong ,I received a called today from a Amber from a National Disability from Oxford Ohio 1-513-296-6877 at 1:02 pm May 4 2018 her exact words were shape was from social security office calling me about my recient request I said I haven’t made any she hung up on me and I called the number back that’s how I got the company name . So I called social security office and there’s nothing you’re office can do for they get some elderly person who don’t know what to do..? That’s sad then why do we even try to report it
Stephen P.
I am dismayed by the fact that reporting a call from someone isn’t easy to report, I called the number provided to notify you, but after a lengthy automated message I’m told that no one is available and that I should just call back later? Then I get online to report it as fraud and I have to write a book?
At the bottom of the page it says “paid for at U.S. taxpayer expense, but I can’t get a hold of anyone or easily report this…
Phyllis T.
I went my Social Security office 2 days ago. I received a call from “unknown“ gentleman who requested that I clarify my personal information. ( name maiden name birthdate and Social Security number) He knew that I had been at my Social Security office 2 days ago. He did not reveal his name or how he knew my information.
Yet he did not identify himself and wanted me to give him all the information to re-apply for Social Security again . This is when I began to suspect that this may be fraud.
How would this person know when I showed up at the office and yet not identify himself or give me a specific agent ID or anything?
Todd H.
got a call from someone saying my ssn has been suspended due to criminal activity for me to call them. Incoming number was 178-328-9321 it was an automated call and I did not get the number to return the call.