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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barbara C.
I received a call from this phone number saying they were calling from Social Security 1-254-730-4833. I have blocked this number. Thank you
L.A.
Hi Barbara. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Timothy W.
Received a call at 7:48 P.M. eastern standard time from 901 -441-8114 identifying them as someone from the SSA. No name was given in the voice mail. They said that my SS number had been flagged in criminal activities and I needed to call this number immediately or they would be freezing my assets and SS number. I know this is a scam and felt you needed this info to investigate.
L.A.
Hi Timothy. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Diane C.
I was contacted by email by Ethan Johnston claiming to be the SS claims person on my newly filed internet claim. I was instructed to call 855-369-5447 X 3105029. I did and left a message. Then looked up this number and found it had been reported in fraud cases. I blocked the number and have suffered no loss. I’m just reporting the information for your tracking purposes.
The email he used was ethan.johnston@ssa.gov
L.A.
Hi Diane. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Jennie L.
I have periodically received calls from people claiming to be from SSA. Recently those calls have become more annoying. I have had several calls a day leavinging this information: (I let it go to voicemail so I could get the readout)
Voicemail from (360) 492-2137
“This is the SSN department my name is officer Catherine Richardson and this call is regarding to your social security number. We found some fraudulent activities under your name to know more information please call us back on this number 360-492-2137. I repeat 360-492-2137. Thank you.”
Why cant this not be stopped!!! I know this is a scam, but I’m sure many people will not know this!
L.A.
Hi Jennie. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
mary p.
i keep getting phone call saying saying my ss has been hack the phone number is 844 344 7320 is this a scam
L.A.
Hi Mary. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Margaret W.
I received a message identifying the caller as from the SS administration, urging me to call immediately to 631-359-4332. The call was a recorded message.
I did not return the call.. I’m sure it was a scammer of some kind.
L.A.
Hi Margaret. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
monica
hello I have received a call today on 11/19/2019 at 11:33AM it was from a man tell me I am facing jail time for social security fraud. I ask questions and when I didn’t give my name he became angry. so I hang up. after that call they keep calling. one number they did call from is 410-673-3843
A.C.
Hi, Monica. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
gcsusan119@yahoo.com
Just received a call from a friend in CA and said the Soc.Sec. office said there was some kind of acitivity
on his number. Told him to go to the SS office and
ask about it. Unfortunately his family has done some
things with his SS checks (now recitfied) in past years.
Hopefully he will get answers at the CA office. Thank
you for being on line for help.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you or your friend receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Michelle
I just received a call from an automated voice stating that my SS was suspended do to fraud on my behalf. And that after I receive this message to call this number 724-318-2950 back to prevent my arrest..
I did call the number back, but from a landline. I also did not provide my name or address. It seemed to be a call center as I could hear a lot of chatter in the background.
The person had an “Indian Accent” or similar to that region as did the voices in the background.
He asked again for my info as to retrieve my file. I asked why the number I just called was a landline in PA and I live in FL. He then stated he was in Houston, then San Antonio and that he was part of the SS dept.
I again said that if there was fraud on my number, I would not be getting a threatening automated call on my cell phone. I said, Maybe they do that where he is from, but in America our Federal agencies do just call up citizens, play them an automated message that threaten’s them with jail. He hung up.
Please be aware of this, I would hate for someone to fall pray to these scams.
A.C.
Hi, Michelle. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Barbara l.
Got a call at2:10 11/16 saying all my benefits are now cut off because of fraudulent behaver said one moment an I would be on line with an nother agent,but they hung up.They never asked for money or anything,.Did the social serity administration call me .The number they called from was 800-811-7527 ,is this a real number associated with s.s.
L.A.
Hi Barbara. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.