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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Johnny B.
I’ve been getting phone calls = they leave message’s on my answering machine. Your Social Security has been stopped due to suspicious activity.
The number is 707-131-1133.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Johnny. 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.
diane
I did receive a call today (recorded message) stating it was from social security and that my ss# was being suspended due to suspicious activity, and I was supposed to call back to get my ss# reinstated. I did not call, and am reporting it here. Should I lock my credit with all the credit companies?
L.A.
Hi Diane. 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.
David
I received a phone call today from the following number:
281-249-5888 (Houston, TX)
It was a recorded message saying that there was fraudulent activity suspected on my social security number and that I should call the phone number before social security started legal charges against me. I hung up the phone and figured I’d report it to social security.
A.C.
Thanks, David. 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. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.
Danny &.
My wife and I have received multiple calls stating our social security number has been compromised and our benefits will be suspended unless I press a number to be connected to an individual.
numbers used: 800-944-8679, 800-737-3454, 800-170-1722, 800-9552100, 800-948-5000
L.A.
Hi Danny & Jane Ellen. 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.
Betty
I have received about 6 calls from this number 512-980-0039 left messages on my answer machine. Another number 325-453-0948. Telling me I have problems with my social security number they are canceling my social security number because of fraudulent things they have found. I’m to contact Officer Maria Gomez at 512-980-0039..
L.A.
Hi Betty. 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.
Donald p.
I had phone interview but i missed csuse of wrong.phone.number hoe.fo.i.get interview to kerp my benefits please hep my.dovilsecurity is *** – ** – *** my ss.number my phone. Is 6614793738 pleease immediestly contacy me .pleas
L.A.
Hi Donald. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to have one of our representatives reschedule an appointment for you with your local Social Security office. If you are applying for benefits, filing online is the easiest, most convenient way to file for Social Security benefits. You can also create a personal my Social Security account to review estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, your earnings record, and the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
michelle
i just got a phone call from 469-269-4165 and say that I am being arrest and need to call them back from social security office..is this a scam????
L.A.
Hi Michelle. 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.
Celeste A.
I received a call from 210-774-4059. I was told that my social security number will be suspended due to fraudulent activity. When I called the number back they answered “social security “
L.A.
Hi Celeste. 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.
Claudia H.
I received a call that said this is the social security off calling to tell me that they are going to close my account because of fraud activity in Texas and to call this number 1 410 864 8877.
I don’t think the call is from Social security and so I called back so see what they had to say and the number was busy and to leave your name and ss number I hung up.
A.C.
Hi, Claudia. 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.
Maria
Received a call today from someone purporting to be from Social Security Administration and that my social security benefits were going to be suspended. I told him I was going to report him to Attorney General’s office. He laughed at me. I asked him his name and he literally spelled it out for me. His name was Aneesh Chaudhary. He then laughed again and hung up. Phone number was 888-141-5672
L.A.
Hi Maria. 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.