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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MaryAnn W.
I am getting repeat phone calls on my cell phone from this number: 800-612-8520 and they say they are from Social Security Administration. I believe they are scammers and I did talk to one person there who wanted my personal information—which I did not provide and they hung up. The person did tell me they were calling because I have fraudulent activity on my SSN —but I do not believe them. They keep calling so am going to block their number but wanted to report this.
L.A.
Hi MaryAnn. 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.
Kathleen. D.
Hi I was waiting for phone interview at 2:20 after having tested phone.
Sometimes it doesn’t ring. It’s a free phone.
No call ever came through. Scheduled for 2:30.
Checked voicemail and was called by a local #at 2:15. But no message. Tried calling the # first time. It said #6### is on the phone.?? I don’t know if that is you guys. Tried calling back to leave better msg. Would not accept calls. Tried main ssa # hour and half wait.
What’s going on?
Disabled senior worried I could lose benefits from serious letter. Help.
L.A.
Hi Kathleen. 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 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to verify. 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 new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
EDWARD o.
I believe I was scammed by phone fro a person who said they were calling from Social Security. they sounded very legitimate and got me to provide my name and social security number. they called me fro texas with phone number 1-713-244-5893. They said my SS# and name was being used with a number of credit cards and other illegal activities like drug smuggling in Texas. Can you help me? My telephone is 312-330-0102.
A.C.
Hi, Edward. Thanks for checking in with us. 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.
Edward R.
I received an email 10/23/2019, 5:14pm EDT, from: Social Security Administration
to opt out of receiving mailed notices.
why would i get that when I have a confirmation from SSA 9/24/2019 confirming that i did opt out.
is this a valid email?
L.A.
Hi Edward. In a few instances, we will use marketing firms to help raise awareness of Social Security’s online services. We allow these firms to send E-mails that will take individuals directly to our website. Any links that you find within these emails should always point to a “.gov” web address. If you are not certain that an email you received came from Social Security or one of our marketing partners, DO NOT click the links. Instead go directly to the Social Security website, and click on the my Social Security icon. Visit our site to learn more about how to detect a fraudulent email messages, here. We hope this helps
Jean b.
Recd call from SSA claiming suspicious activity on my account and I should call them before they go to court. The number is 818-600-7151.
Bob
Received a call from Austin, TX that my ss card had been breeched. I then received my credit card statement charging over $2,000 for River link, Austin, TX.
How do i stop others from using my SS number?
Charles H.
At least once a day every day I get the call from a threatening person concerning my SS!
Is there anyway to stop this?
Cherrie L.
having trouble receiving security code on email when I sign in. Would Like to receive code on cell.
Philip P.
I received a call from this number, 516 530-8280, they claimed that my SS# was being used by criminals in Texas. This must be fraud of some kind. The 516 Area code is for Nassau county, NY. I tried to file a report via oig.ssa.gov/report. The report asked for a information that I did know and wouldn’t let me forward the report>
Susan c.
Rec’d call from 855 285 6010 saying “your sis # has been suspended” is this the ss office?
L.A.
Hi, Susan. 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. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. We hope this helps.