Frauds & Scams

New Updates to Our Warning About Social Security Phone Scams

January 8, 2021 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: January 13, 2021

A photo of a man using a laptop with a Scam email graphic being displayed on the monitorThe 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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About the Author

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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Comments

  1. Shelley

    I have received numerous calls from California today–all stating my social security number has been compromised and to hit 1 for more information.

    916-242-8592, 661-202-2020, 415-898-3440, 858-552-4092, 415-898-3440, 626-968-6431

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Shelley. 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.

  2. Ashley m.

    I received a phone call from someone names Stacy from 1 717 886 2031 stating she was with social security disability adjudicator buruea of determination. That I need to see Ima industrial medical associates again. Due to I haven’t had a review done in year’s. Is this a scam call.

  3. JACK B.

    Getting multiple calls from numbers:
    1163622114363
    1116362252307
    alledging fraudulant use of my social security number in Texas at the border. Basically same message as other fraud calls.

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Jack. 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.

  4. Crusan

    Numerous calls each day stating I had a warrant and my SSN was suspended. I always press 1 ask for their federal ID number and when they give a bull $%^& id I call them out and screw with them. They want to waste my time I have no issue wasting theirs! I actually had some idiot once tell me his federal id # was 007. Classic!

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Crusan. 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.

  5. Cee W.

    Automated computer voice. Stayed on the line to wait for a human and it sounded like a call center (as in a lot of voices and noise in the background) woman who answered used a badge number along with an officer name. Told her that SSD does not call and certainly not from cell phones. Hung up and blocked, but got 2 more calls – same auto voice stating ‘he’ was officer Steve White. BTW all the numbers have been blocked
    917-371-2028 / 917-371-9708 and 917-371-4700
    numbers

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Cee. 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.

      • Dylan C.

        I have received 2 calls already and am concerned. I’m sure it is a scam but not for sure. I’m not gullible much but these people are evolving every year ! Apparently my ss has been used in a fraudulent manner. Please contact me to reassure me.

        • Vonda

          Thanks for letting us know, Dylan. 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.

  6. Lamar D.

    In the last 3 hours, I’ve received calls from three numbers in California, all with the same automated message saying that “this is the office of social security” saying my SSN has been used in suspicious manner or something, to press 1. I could tell it was a scammer on the first call, but after three, I feel I need to report it and blocking doesn’t work, since the number keeps changing. Here’s the three numbers:
    530-666-4468
    831-763-7000
    408-978-8966

  7. Gene W.

    received a call from Sacramento, Ca,#916-520-9509 telling me that there would be a warrant issued on me, and to answer this call so that they may take care of it for me, if I didn’t comply they would freeze all my accounts. I called my local Sheriffs dept and I was told to ignore and do not answer these type of calls, that they were after my account numbers.

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Gene. 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.

  8. Adrienne E.

    I received a call from a 3182435034 and the person told me that my SSN was being used fraudulently and then asked me what was my number. When I asked him what was my SSN since he was calling from the Social Security Administration, he hung up

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Adrienne. 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.

  9. Martin D.

    I received a call from 703-419-2023. It was a robotic voice saying my SSN was used illegally in Texas at the border. The message started by saying it was Agent Mendez (or something like that) and I had to press 1 to speak with the agent. There was a grammatical error in the message as well. I hung up. I called the number back and it was no longer in service. Imagine that.

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Martin. 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.

    • Eric C.

      Received a call from 269-680-2824. Automated message saying my SSN was being used illegally and to press 1 to speak to an agent. The agent ” Agent Brown” sounded like it was a call center, told me the local authorities would be coming to my house if I did not comply. Wanted to verify all my personal info ” so that I could avoid legal action against me, They already had my full name. I asked who was bringing legal action against me and this male voice told me that I had to cooperate to get that information. I asked the agents name again “still Agent Brown”, then asked what the address is for the SS building they were calling me from..
      No answer and a hang up.
      I called the number back and got a voice mail. Then my fiancé called from a different phone and an answer from a female that told her it was the wrong number, my fiancé informed her that her number was being used by scammers and she needed to call her phone provider.

      • Vonda

        Thanks for letting us know, Eric. 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.

    • Ashley m.

      I got a call from someone saying they where from social security yesterday they said their name was Stacy and she was from the department of social security stating that she was a adjudicator buruea of determination for social security disability the number she called me from was 1 717-886-2031 she had all info. Saying that I hadn’t had a review in years. And that I have to go to Ima. Industrial medical associates. Please let me know if this was a scam call.

      • Vonda

        Hi Ashley, thanks for checking in with us. Generally, we will only contact someone if they have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. If you’re receiving Social Security benefits, Social Security may be calling for a review or a redetermination. 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.

  10. They w.

    I received a phone call from 972-9988401. It was an Automated message stating that there was a problem with my Social Security and an arrest warrant had been issued for my arrest. Was told press one to speak to an agent hanging up would Lead to prosecution. I receive phone calls like this frequently. I know that Social Security would not contact you through an automated system. They will contact you through certified mail or call you if you requested a phone call. If you get a phone call like this do not give them any information my advice would be to hang up immediately and block the number.

Comments are closed.