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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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Pearl G.
I’m receiving multiple calls a day from a local phone caller. When I answer it’s a robo call saying that the gov. is sending some one to arrest me for selling my SS number. The number that is calling is:
1-956-793-9483. How can I get them to stop?
Thank you,
Pearl Garza
ETP
I need to know if the number 469-656-6039 is a legitimate SSA number. My dad received a call from this number and isn’t sure who he spoke to was a real SSA person. I have looked in various places online and there are mixed beliefs about it’s validity. I have also called the SSA office, as instructed in your comments here, and it has cut me off because there are no available agents – not even allowing me to hold or request a call back. Please please respond as soon as possible about this number.
Thank you,
ETP
Joan T.
My husband and I have each received a second letter titled “Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan costs” although NEITHER of us have requested such extra help. The letters note a specific amount of net worth for my and my husband’s resources. It seems like someone is impersonating us and has applied for this extra help without our knowledge. We are worried about fraudulent claims on my or my husband’s ss. Please advise
A.C.
Hi, Joan. 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 questions. 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.
Doreen T.
I received a call from Ron Westfall 877-772-4309 ext 35106 , to get additional info to confirm my identity (applied for social security).Please tell me where to go to do this on line.
A.C.
Hi, Doreen. 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.
Aaron K.
I have used ticket to work since it started and got a bill for $28,528.00 and believe that it has interfered with my SSDI payments, and this is dating back to 2011, and just found out in 2019. What should be done, is this legal and leaving me in debt.
Also the bill came from Southeastern Program Service Center 1200 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35285-0001
Date; December 18, 2019
BNC# 19K4749G92381-01,
However the payment stub says to pay Social Security Administration PO Box 3430
\Philadelphia PA 19122-9985
A.C.
Hi, Aaron. 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 questions. 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.
Maria S.
I received a call indicating that my social security was going to be cancelled because of a fraud that I can go to jail.
They identify as social security personnel.I asked the phone number to call latter and they hanged the call.
A.C.
Hi, Maria. 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.
Dave G.
Today I received a phony phone call from “Social Security” and it came from 800-702-5941.
A.C.
Hi, Dave. 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.
Lynne S.
I would like to contact Social Security office in Maine, as I live in Nova Scotia Canada, and need to connect with an office that is close to us in Eastern Canada. Can you help me with this, so I can speak with a person in this office.
Thankyou.
A.C.
Hi, Lynne. Since you are living outside of the U.S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Diana G.
Hello i am receiving calls from this number 805-307-9195, stating my social card has been suspended.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Diana. 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.
Pamela S.
We live in Marietta Oklahoma. Last Friday/Saturday (January 10-11) we received at least 4 calls from an automated source that said our social security number had been compromised and to press 1 for further information. I immediately hung up but I did write down the number it came from. It was 617-548-7800. I didn’t know if you would want this or not. Don
t want some elderly person to get ripped off. Thank you.
A.C.
Hi, Pamela. 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.