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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Jeffery G.
received the following phone message on 10/10/2019 at 4:42pm Before this matter goes to the courthouse and we freeze your bank accounts and suspend your SS and get you arrested. For more information regarding this case you can get back to us at 410-929-9380….. make sure you call before you get arrested”
A.C.
Hi, Jeffery. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General 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.
Karen H.
I just received a voicemail from 925-219-3965 telling me that my ID number is being investigated by the federal crime investigation department. We need to talk to you as soon as possible again this call is from Social Security administration number to reach department is 925-219-3965. (This sounded like a robocall)
A.C.
Hi, Karen. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General 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.
virginia b.
if the call from SSA says it is the billing department why would the first they ask for is the SS#?
wouldn’t we have received a letter in the mail first?
This call is for my son and the women didn’t ask for his name she just asked for his SS#. Also they did not ask to talk directly to my son. I made it very clear that he was an adult which would mean that you would need his permission to speak to me on his behalf. Very confused!!
I am not feeling like this is secure at all. You are not following your own suggestions of protecting me from fraud!!!!
L.A.
Hi Virginia. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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 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.
Frances
Hi. I just received a suspicious phone call and voicemail from people saying they are from the SSA Dept. and that they say there is suspicious activity on my SSA number. That they will stop my number and that I need to press #1 to find out more information. I didn’t call them back. I want to know if this is a Scam call? Their number ID is 1-210-706-9514. Should I report this to the OIG ssa as a scam? Thanks.
L.A.
Hi Frances. Thanks for letting us know about these calls. 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 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.
Lynn R.
thank you social security administration for all the tips on how to prevent fraud and how to fight :fraud” I was a phone victim warned of “freeze on my social security” by crooks imposters from CIA demanding I follow their instructions to remove freeze. I IMMEDIATELY informed social security administration!!!!!
Elaine D.
I am locked out of my on line account.
Please call me at 712-707-9090
A.C.
Hi, Elaine. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Gale M.
Will a SSA agent leave their direct line in voicemail? Can this #be confirmed as legitimate-fcc breach clue – 619-718-7805….my $$ says it is private citizen using a Magic Jack…
Thanx!
L.A.
Hi Gail. 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 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.
Gary D.
I received a threatening call from the following number saying that I was going to be arrested and I had to call the following number: 610-844-0396
L.A.
Hi Gary. 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 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 L.
I just received a scam telephone call. To whom do I report this telephone number?
Thank you!
Dave
L.A.
Hi David. 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 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.
Dave R.
Spam call from 13216042756 claiming that my social security number is being used for fraudulent activity south border of Texas.
L.A.
Hi Dave. 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 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.