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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Lona F.
Received a call from 757-634-3752 threatening to have an arrest warrant issued for me if I didn’t call back and enter the last four of my social security number. Have had at least 4 calls from this number. I haven’t called back but they keep calling.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Lona. 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.
Bruce S.
At 11:18 4/9/21 I received a phone call from an individual statine that my SSN was compromised and used in Texas near the border and legal action would be taken against me. Approximately 2 hours later I received a second call and spoke with an individual with a foreign accent. I told him to send me written data about the “case” claimed have someone from the OIG Office come to my home to discuss the “case”. The individual became angry and told me “f— you” when I told him to shut up and listen. I did not keep the phone numbers I believe they may be local to my area.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Bruce. 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.
Irene
In the past week ive gotten a phone call from a Leonard Jeffery 9413801465. When looked up, its a remax agents phone number.
They tell me after the recorded message when i refuse to verify information that they will forward my file to the local authority.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Irene. 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.
Jim S.
Received call from numbers my phone said were spam. They left voice mails warning of impending legal actions if did not call number back. I deleted number or would have listed it. When I called person answered phone as Social Security Department, gave me name and badge number, (1007), started asking questions. Only thing I answered was my name. He gave me back some info to confirm and it was wrong. I started asking questions and they hung up.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Jim. 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.
david w.
I keep getting these same fraud calls over and over again. They say this is Audrey from the Social Security Administration calling you on a recorded line, to inform you about your recent application for SSA benefits. Have also received a few calls from someone claiming he is Sargeant Michael Brown with the SSA administration. These calls are getting very frustrating.
Gary
I got one of these calls yesterday and almost fell for it until they said something about texa and asked for the last five digits of SSI I stupidly told them that but once my brain caught up to what was happening I hung up and blocked the 5 numbers they were calling from.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Gary. 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.
Ambyre C.
I just got a phone call like that today too claiming my social security number had been used in Texas and all kinds of stuff was wrong. I hung up once I realized it was a scam.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Ambrye. 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.
Gokhan
Received a call from this number stating that my social security number suspended.
+1 (561) 600-4289
Boynton beach fl
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Gokhan. 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.
t A.
Just received a call from 833-602-1066 Stating they were from Social Security and needed to confirm my S/S#. I hung up.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Tim. 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.
Joanna
Like others, I have received a rash of calls today – most of which have caller IDs that look like real businesses. I ignored 1, screened 2 and answered 1 of them – for a total of 4 calls all from California.
714-580-3381
559-228-1040
562-691-6661
650-593-6837
The one I answered (562-691-6661) was an automated message telling me my social security number had been “compromised”. It was supposedly a call from Enterprise Rent A Car but it was a weird, unprofessional sounding robo-dialer.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Joanna. 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.
Shawn
received call from 812 655 8587 0n 3/31/2021 saying my SS was compromised and i was going to be arrested i just hung up and blocked number i get phone calls all the time, when is it going to stop???
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Shawn. 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.
Kevin J.
Got calls from ph#4082509137 and 4082507465 with same message stated by Shawn.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Kevin. 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.