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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Ruby R.
Received a letter statingthey did not receive the information sent to me for my application.please let them know I did send it in October. Did not keep copies.Please let me know what to send. Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Ruby. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific concerns. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Jessica W.
I already received my permanent residence card . But until now i still did not receive any mail for my social security number
A.C.
Hi, Jessica. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you applied for a Social Security card for the first time, it may take longer than 30 days. On your receipt there should be a local phone number for you to call and speak to someone about the status of your Social Security card or you may have to return to the Social Security office where you filed your application. When you go, take the documents you originally presented as evidence. We hope this helps.
Amena C.
In the last two days I have received four calls leaving a message that says it’s from Social Security. It keeps telling me that it’s urgent and I need to call them back. This is definitely a scam right?
L.A.
Hi Amena. 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.
George W.
Fraudulent call today from Tel. 1-800-847-1293, the caller number listed may be impersonated.
L.A.
Hi George. 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.
Robert R.
I received a call from someone in Texas. The phone number was 1-512-361-7137. When I called the number back, a person claiming to be a SSA employee answered. I received the voicemail at 11:47 AM on 10/30/2019. The person ask for my name which I told him. He then told me that my social security was being used in a money laundering scheme in Texas. To which I said I seriously doubt that. Then I told him I didn’t trust that he was who he said he was and didn’t work for the SSA.
L.A.
Hi Robert. 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.
DTT
Can someone tell me if this is a legitimate Social Security Administration phone number: 855-257-0067?
Thank you.
L.A.
Hi. 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. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps
Betsy O.
I received 2 rob o all’s from Ennis TX, number 972-666-7018 with a message that there is social security fraud and to call 971-666-7018
L.A.
Hi Betsy. 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.
Donn C.
I received a cell phone message this morning, Monday, 10-28-19 at about 7:30 am PST stating there may be fraud in my account and to call them at 619-375-4367.
I have not called them yet. I went online to review my account messages and found nothing related to this issue. I don’t know if tis is real or a scam. Could you please recommend how I should proceed ?
Thank You, Donn Olson
Email : DonnOlson@gmail.com
L.A.
Hi Donn. 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. Also, please do not write any personal information such as email address, telephone number, address, etc. on this forum because it is a public forum and not secured. We hope this helps.
Nora P.
I received many calls from as this one said that someone has used my as number and I should call them right away. This is the 4th time that is scammer contacted me. The language was off I would think if this real I should have received a letter detailing this problem. I also just received my renewal letter and some how did not receive any information about this.
Ronald L.
I keep getting calls on my answering machine under “anonymous” I looked up the telephone number 609-857-6344 and it came back to SSI (Social Security) in the Pleasantville NJ area.
Whats going on ?
L.A.
Hi Ronald. 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.