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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Carol B.
“someone” from this phone # 972.497.1400 called me today 8/28/19 I.D. themselves as social security remember for my phone appointment tomorrow 8/29/19. HOW DID THEY GET MY # and that information? I was so fn confused I literally stayed on the official SS office contact number to make sure that I still had the appointment for 8/29/19. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
K.O.
Hello Carol. Thanks for sharing your experience. You may also report suspicious calls 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Bettie B.
I have received several phone calls stating that my Social Security has been suspended. I think this is a fraud call.
However I would like to know for sure that it is a fraud.
Thank you.
William A.
I received a telephone call from1-208-264- 2675 on Tuesday 8-27-19 at approx1:45 pm stating there is fraudulent activity on my social security number. Call was on my caller ID. I did not return call but am concerned if there is an issue. Thank you
mark A.
Just got a new scam call today, saying my ssn is suspended, and an arrest warrant was issued for me.
After years of being on the DNC list, and seeing first hand how inept my government is to stop the nearly daily non stop calls, for well over a decade, its time to remove my landline, to have some peace of mind. Not much I cam do about the daily calls on my cell phone
William S.
Just got a call from a supposed employee of SSA.
He spoke with a heavy accent and asked to confirm the last 4 digits of my SS#, stating that SSA detected suspicious activity and had “suspended” my account.
I refused to answer until he identified himself and his phone number so I can return the call. He hung up. The last number calling my home phone was 18881260714, but when I dialed it I got a recording “you cannot dial that number” or something like that.
Linda
I was wondering if you gyes called me number was
+1 (866) 815-9605 I listen to the voicemail It was so so security social, Thank You
A.C.
Hi, Linda. 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.
Constance E.
received phone call saying my number was compromised
and give them the last four digits of my ss #.
all I have is the phone number of 1-800-611-3979 from which recording was initiated.
L.A.
Thank you for letting us know about these calls, Constance. 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.
Gary L.
Ddoes social security ever contact anyone by phone?
If so, how do we know it is legitimate?.
L.A.
Hi Gary. 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.
Rosemary
I just received a call from the Office of the Inspector General. The caller did give me a badge number 417J4271 and he told me that he was a Senior Officer for the Social Security Administration. I kept asking him for a phone number so that my police officer husband could call back and he said that he could not give me his cell phone number. I didn’t ask for his cell phone number just the number to Social Security. He hung up on me. The caller ID showed private.
L.A.
Hi Rosemary. 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.
wayne m.
i am receiving calls from people saying they are from ssa. the # they call from is 1-915-239-8415. a woman says she is officer samantha williams she says there is criminal activities on my ss account & to call this # (above)before they procede with legal procedings.
i have the message on my recorder. what can i do to stop this type of calls?
i am not sure if this is the right place to send this but it all i could find.
thank you
wayne moorman (wemoor@bellsouth.net)
home phone 904-269-5683
if you are going to call me about this please send e-mail with your name &# your will be calling from before you call other wise i will not answer
thank you
L.A.
Jo Wayne. 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.