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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Christine R.
I have received a phone call from an social Security office on the west coast phone number is 855-807-8675 extension 5202 and her name is Ruby. Trying to figure out if this is a legit phone call. Please advise me what to do?
A.C.
Hi, Christine. We’re sorry, but we do not have a list of all of the possible phone numbers that Social Security uses. What we can tell you is that we do not usually make random calls. If someone calls you saying that they are from Social Security, do not give them your personal information. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you. We hope this helps.
Stephaniepeltonen
I received a call on my cell phone saying my social security number had been flagged. (I had just had a credit check done by American financial network but was on my landline and never gave cell phone number to anyone.)also afraid of my husband & my Ssn# being stolen in regards to this.
A.C.
Hi, Stephanie. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Claremarie V.
I need assurance that this was a fraudulent phone call.
L.A.
Hi Claremarie. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Kay h.
Does ssa have a Birmingham AL office with the phone number 205. 801 1111
Kathlyn T.
I received an automated a voice mail stating “my Social Security, (or S.S.#?) is being suspended, and a warrant is being issued for my arrest.” And, “to speak to an officer for more information about the case, press #1.” So, I pressed #1, but nothing happened!
Needless to say, this really freaked me out! Could this be a crank call? I can’t imagine what else this could possibly be about, unless maybe someone stole my identity.
A.C.
Hi, Kathlyn. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Jean S.
The form was waaayyyy too long to report an impersonation call.
Cinthia R.
I got a phone call from SS office with my info and I’m scare that is a scam what can I do
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Cinthia. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Julia W.
is there anything I can do to stop the harassing phone calls telling me that my Social Security number has fraudulent charges and will be canceled?
I get them everyday and from different numbers so blocking the number does not help.
It is very upsetting, I live on Disability and they call at all times of the day and evening.
L.A.
Hi Julia. 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
M H.
Received a phone call today stating my SSN had been suspended because of suspicious activity, Is this legit? The number that called was 1-800-227-3115 and it was a digital voice.
L.A.
Hi M. 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps
doris t.
got a call from college park md this evening saying my social involved in criminal activity and needed to call the number to call as 402 1624 5540 i sis not answer the call and theyleft message on answer machine – to call back my social would be shut off etc – until legal proceedings etc