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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
See Comments
About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
timoth
How do I report these calls?? I receive about 4-6 calls a day from different phone numbers some of the numbers are real business that they temporary acquire their ID and call requesting SS information..
A.C.
Hi, Timoth. Thanks for checking in with us. 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.
J. D.
I just recieved a recorded phone call claiming that my social security number has been used in illegal activity and that a warrant for my arrest will be made if I don’t call 1-320-201-2010 and talk to a social security agent. I’m almost tempted to call just to see what all they say for the fun of it. lol (but this is something new)
A.C.
Hi. 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.
Joan R.
Received from 1-609-357-9389 (I asked and the man said they were calling from Maryland) today where a man was telling me all of my bank accounts would be closed because a 2008 Honda Civic (which I donated to Vets last year) had been found on the border of West Texas abandoned where blood was found along with cocaine. The car was traced back to a previous owner in El Paso Texas and the DEA went to the address of that owner and the house had been abandoned but they found millions of dollars in cash as well as more drugs. He then said all my bank accounts tied back to my SS number and driver’s license number and named off several of by bank credit card names and wanted to know if I recognized them as mine, I said “no”. Then he wanted me asked me if there if there were any bank accounts he didn’t name that needed to be alerted so they wouldn’t close them. I told him I was not going to give him any of my bank accounts information that I was going to call my local social security office to check into this and he said if I hung up all of my accounts would be closed and I would be arrested because of the drugs and money that had been found in my abandoned Honda in West Texas. I hung up. I called my local social security office and they were closed for the day so I called my local bank and they said that was a scam call and that no suspicious activity was on my bank account.
Altha E.
got fake phone call saying from s s the number they left is 747 212 7321
A.C.
Hi, Altha. 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.
Roger L.
A scam call from 715-755-9005.
A.C.
Hi, Roger. 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.
Danny P.
is the Office of Quality Review – New York a legitimate social security office? do they send requests for information?
A.C.
Hi, Danny. There are times when a claim is selected for quality assurance review. If you are not certain if the request for information you received came from Social Security, please 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.
Jan H.
Our telephone answer machine recorded the following message this morning from:
(caller ID): “800 Service”
(approx. message):
“…calling from the Social Security Administration…
…have received a legal complaint about…
…your Social Security number…
…blocking…(use?) of your drivers license and…(?) …call 833-424-5075
Note: I played the message over and over, but could not make discover the exact wording. Most messages left on our phone are spoken too fast or slurred, but I hope this will help you catch the SLIMEBALLS that commit the worst crimes against humanity.
Florence D.
I didn’t answer the phone but they left a message that there is a suspension notice against my social security pending investigation, and I am to call this # which is 855 326 7179.
If social security wanted to get a hold of me how would they do it??
Kevin W.
I got a suspicious call from ssa telling me that my identity was stolen please verify if it’s true.
Gerald Y.
Is the 1-800-842-0588 a Social Security Phone number?