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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Burton N.
I was called stating my ss# was used and an arrest warrant was being issued and told to press 1, when an “agent” came on he sounded foreign. I told him he didn’t sound like he was from around here and I felt it was a scam
Number called from (209) 533-4930
Ann C.
Hi, Burton. 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. Thanks, again.
Brittany s.
I just receive a call saying I had fraudulent activity on my ss# and I need to call back and taken care of before my arrest warrant went out. The number is from Michigan and I live in Minnesota. #+1 (906) 384-5020
Cornell, MI
Ann C.
Hi, Brittany. 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.
Michael B.
I have just received 2 calls from people claiming to be an agent of the SSA. They asked my name and SS number to give me info on some sort of crime I/or someone using my SS number. the two numbers were.
843-685-6633 and 843-685-6690. Both times i was transferred to a call center with the “agent” that had a heavy Indian accent. I did not give any info out since if they are calling me they should already know my info.
Ann C.
Thanks for letting us know, Michael. 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.
Steph
I just receive a call from an Arizona number- +1 (480) 984-0800. He said my ssn number was involved in a crime in Texas. He gave me a fake name and “badge number”. After I told him he was a scammer, he called me a very nasty name and hung up.
Adam R.
Just received a robocall this afternoon saying similar things to previous comments. It was a CA number 1-949-675-1232. It wasn’t even a good robocall, instead of sounding like a person it clearly was a machine.
Clyde D.
I recieved two call today from ‘agent’ Amanda, stating my SS# had been used in fraudulent activity in Texas. I hung up rather than talk to some other agent by pressing 1. The number was 352 584 8338
Ann C.
Hi, Clyde. 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.
L.W.
Just got a call from number 309 242 4267. Messaged played claimed I had a Social Security issue. I answered: Once they said this is Social Security, I hung up. Call came from
a Veronica Riggs.
Ann C.
Hi. L.W. 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.
Ratasha H.
I just received a call from a 929-323-1816.
They wouldn’t give me any information about the call. Just kept saying my information is involved in an investigation in Texas and if I don’t give them proof it is me I will be arrested. I recorded the and hung up once he said that.
Ann C.
Thanks for letting us know, Ratasha. 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.
Donna
One of my employees received a call at work and asked me what they should do. We put the phone on speaker and I listened in. She said her name was Anna Benson. She spoke with a heavy Indian accent. Her badge number was SSA150401. She called him from 401-359-5412.
He told he repeatedly that he would just go to SSA office tomorrow to talk to someone and find out why they want to suspend his number for fraud activity when she kept trying to talk him out of it he finally hung up.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Donna. 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.
Laurie K.
My daughter which is 19. Just received a call from 833-314-2316
She came to me and ask would SSA call you over the phone. She give me the phone and once I asked who was calling they hung up. She didn’t give them any information ( Thank God)
This madness needs to stop.
Vonda
Thanks for letting us know, Laurie. 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.