New Updates to Our Warning About Social Security Phone Scams
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 13, 2021
The Inspector General for Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is again warning the public about widespread Social Security-related telephone scams. These scams may use sophisticated tactics to deceive them into providing sensitive information or money.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has recently received reports of telephone scammers using real Social Security and OIG officials’ names — many of which are publicly available on our websites or through an online search. Other common tactics to lend legitimacy to scams are citing “badge numbers” of law enforcement officers. Some request that people send email attachments containing personal information about an “investigation,” or text links to click on to “learn more” about a Social Security-related problem.
Inspector General Ennis wants you to know Social Security will never:
- Suspend your Social Security number because someone else has used it in a crime.
- Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee.
- Require payment by retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or mailing cash.
- Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
- Send official letters or reports containing your personal information via email.
“Don’t believe anyone who calls you unsolicited from a government agency and threatens you — just hang up,” Inspector General Ennis said. “They may use real names or badge numbers to sound more official, but they are not. We will keep updating you as scam tactics evolve — because public awareness is the best weapon we have against them.”
If you owe money to Social Security, we will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. If you receive a letter, text, call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account, or payments, hang up or do not respond.
We encourage you to report Social Security scams — or other Social Security fraud — via the OIG website. You may also read all previous Social Security OIG fraud advisories on our website. Please share this information with your friends and family to help spread awareness about Social Security scams.
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Tags: fraud, scams, social security, telephone scams
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Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General
About Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General
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Mary
I got this same phone call a little over a month ago, and I was scared out of my mind. I know that the SSA does not call you, they will always mail a letter, but when the person is spouting off a name and also a badge number, it freaks you out. Luckily I called the local authorities and explained what type of call that I had just received and they said that there was a scam out there. It was a very threatening phone call and I felt like they could do harm. I even went to the bank to make sure that there hadn’t been any sort of activity on the account other than what we had authorized. It was so funny that they type of cards that they were telling me that I had to buy, they were so specific and wanted me to stay on the line with them so that they could verify that I was where they told me that I needed to be, and that I wasn’t suppose to talk to anyone about this transaction, I knew then for sure that it was a SCAM!!!! If these people would put their skills to work and work an actual job they could be millionaires.
rob t.
Thank you for posting these updates and leaving the comments. I received a call very similar to those mentioned above. I’m commenting b/c my call was less threatening, but came from wanting to help me.
They said I had a case in a different state, with case & warrant numbers. This person gave me a name and reg #.
They said that it seems as if I am the victim of a crime and they would like to clear my name from the investigation.
When I declined to give my personal info, this person said that the FBI and my local sheriff’s office would come to my home to arrest me.
I asked more questions, but they were unwilling to give me any info about my case unless I gave them more info about me.
It’s the “give an inch” game they play: they start small and seemingly harmless (name, zip), then they confirm a city, then d.o.b & last four digits of my SS#. That’s when I stopped. It seemed like, “what’s the harm”, but I paused. At each stage, they said, “I just need this info to get your case”. I give, and then they repeat, “I just need (more info) to get your case”. I saw the pattern and stopped.
After some debate, I was told that I was fearful, uncooperative, and most likely the culprit of the crime in the report. They said that identity theft is the number one crime in the world to which I responded “because of giving out personal information during calls like these, which I won’t do”.
More debate while my I looked up the scam, and eventually hung up.
What’s so demoralizing is — yes, we’re in a pandemic, record numbers of unemployment, many people don’t have food money, which is despicable — but the worst is that they’re targeting people who proactively want to clear their name, settle debts and remain a good citizen. They prey on the goodness of people who live trustworthy lives.
This page and these comments empower us not to give in to their deceit and not lose trust in people.
Sue
Thanks for letting us know, Rob, and for sharing your thoughtful comments. 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.
When you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide any 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.
Lillian L.
Great useful and practical information!
Mary W.
Today I received a call saying that my Social Social account no had a threat had been found on my SS #
Sue
Thanks for letting us know, Mary. 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.
Teri L.
I don’t understand why this is not a priority for congress and the FCC to put an end to this mess. Robo and scam calls all day, every day. It is rediculous. If anyone running for congress made addressing this as part of their stump speech, they would be elected!!!
Naomi S.
I received a call today from phone number 332-237-1128 stating that they were from the social security office. They stated there was fraudulent activities on my SSN and wanted information to verify my identity. I asked them for a website where I could verify where they were calling from and the lady hang up.
Sue
Thanks for letting us know, Naomi. 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
munir R.
security number.12345678
my address:Addis ababa.Ethiopia
my phone number +251948231916
My Email munir160948231916
bank account number 1000206466767.commercial bank of Ethiopia.
birth date 16/06/2000
Jeff S.
Thank you for keeping us up to date on these scams, we have had a few from SS and IRS , I just hang up and block the # .
Corey H.
Yeah I had the same thing happen to me a few days ago but the person acted like a police officer giving me a badge number I’m worried because I thought it was legit and gave them my social security number and address 🙁 I’m literally scared and feel like the biggest idiot ever
Susan W.
I received a scam call today. I didn’t recognize the phone number, but it was my area code so I answered thinking it was a local call.
It was a robot. Claiming to be with Social Security telling me (paraphrasing): my social security number was suspended and I was in some kind of trouble for some kind of something and I had to push 1 to find out what was going on. Well, I did not push 1. I hung up because I know Social Security will only ever send out a notice. They don’t call your house. Ever.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Susan. 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.
MARIA D.
I got one today from 281-829-4939 saying that I had issues with Social Security and that I am in trouble, I just hung up so if there was more, which I believe there is, it sounds like the same call I got a few months back they give a call back #. I just hung up and now I am blocking the caller.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Maria. 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.
Michelle R.
We received a phone call and after saying she was from Social Security she said “If I lose you call 866-xxxxx”.
Then she hung up. We did not call back.
Vonda
Hi Michelle, thanks for checking in with us. Generally, we will only contact someone if they have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. To see if Social Security did make that call, you would need to call your local office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Luke
The same thing happened to me today. I did push 1 and then it hung up. Should I be at all worried?
Bonnie R.
My husband passed away 4/20/2020. About a month ago he received 2 letters (same day) one from Colorado Unemployment Insurance program and the other Ohio Unemployment. With each letter was a US Bank ReliaCard and instructions how to activate the card and receive his benefits. My husband was 76 yrs of age and never worked in these States. I reported this to IDES (Illinois) and was told to destroy the cards