Scam Awareness
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Social Security is committed to protecting the information and resources entrusted to us, including your personal information and investment. However, scam artists might try to trick you into sharing your personal information or money. We’re here to help you identify and report these kinds of schemes.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has a new web page with tips on how to protect yourself from theft schemes, how to report scams, and recent fraud advisories. This is in response to an ongoing phone scheme, where individuals receive a call with a recorded message claiming to be from the OIG.
The message states the individual’s Social Security account, Social Security number, frand/or benefits are suspended, and that they should call a non-Social Security phone number to resolve the issue. When the individual calls this number, an unknown person pressures them into providing money or gift cards to resolve a fabricated issue, such as a warrant for the individuals’ arrest. Social Security does not solicit your personal information over the phone or by email, or request advance fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. If anyone pressures you to provide personal information or money over the phone, just hang up.
If you suspect fraud, report it to the OIG on their website or by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
For more than 80 years, Social Security has secured today and tomorrow by protecting what’s important to you. You can learn more about the tools we use to identify, prevent, and fight fraud here.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Cynthia B.
Who can take away your money from social security besides the IRS?
Patty
___123___Scam Awareness | Social Security Matterss___123___
john
nice post
Beatrice N.
I received 2 phone calls this morning – November 21, 2017 from a Alice Jones advising my social security number will be closed. I was told to call 667-401-7426. I did not call this number as I believe it is obviously a SCAM. Will you please tell me how to handle this matter going forward?
J.Y.
Hello Beatrice. Please be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, or email messages. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company. Avoid providing personal information unless you are certain of a person’s authority to have the information. In a few instances, we will use marketing firms to help raise awareness of Social Security’s online services, and this includes creating a my Social Security account. We allow these firms to send E-mails that will take individuals directly to our website. Any links that you find within these E-mails should always point to a “.gov” web address. If you are not certain that an E-mail you received came from Social Security or one of our marketing partners, DO NOT click the link. Visit our “Internet Phishing Alert” web page to learn more about how to detect a fraudulent E-mail message. We hope this information helps!
Helen
I just filled out a very detailed questionnaire with personal information at benefits.gov. Is this legitimate? I got the link from the bottom of a ssa.gov window so I thought it must be. I did want to check though as I find myself fielding fake calls more and more. I am ashamed to say I believe I was taken in for a sum I didn’t verify when I didn’t feel well one day. I’m still not sure who I paid.
Thanks!
Helen
R.F.
Hi Helen. Only official U.S. government websites will have addresses that end in “.gov.” If a person has questions about any communication —email, letter, text or phone call— that claims to be from SSA, please call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778) to verify its legitimacy. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanks.
JW
The first time I got one of those calls from “Internal Revenue Services” I was startled and angry. It was a live caller. And I knew I owed nothing to nobody! I was ready for a fist fight. Now we just get recorded messages, and quite frequently, but sometimes call back to mess with them. My daughter called one back and actively discounted the things the guy said to try to intimidate her and they ultimately had a nice conversation when he honestly described the operation and even suggested that she might like to join them. Of course she said that it was an unethical line of work that she wouldn’t participate in. We found that to be quite interesting. In any case, if you just want to give some money away, hard earned or not, you can give it to me.
I’ve known of intelligent people who have fallen for telephone extortion schemes but if you are that easily frightened, illiterate, or infirm, get caller ID on your phone and only answer calls from numbers you recognize! The warnings against this activity are in the news media all the time and it’s easy to find information about it on the IRS site. But if you think that the U.S. Govt collects debt in iTunes cards then there is probably no hope for you.
steve j.
Ask us how you can reduce your corporate and personal liabilities through Safe Harbor … Contact a
Financial Advisor today about your retirement plan.
christian m.
i think people scum that still on social security fraud are not title to cash ,they need prison cell and i mail changed based on social security fraud need to pay back .i got to changed mail on brother law enforcement it criminal.
christian m.
steal that do not pratice
christian m.
i think scam who run social security fraud and sell property at 97 piney ridge return since they don’t practice in mail or property ,i transfer to officer manger marianna fl and book.run scams not title .i might make trip to landlord i get mail sent 17705 center dr.fountain fl 32438
Carol
Hello all,
I have not lost money or given out personal information, but I do want to share how a couple of scammers tried to get money from me. The first call I received was an automated voice message that informed me I was going to be sued for non-payment of student loans. I had to laugh because my student loans were paid off back in the seventies.
The next call I received was telling me that an arrest warrant has been issued that is non-negotiable, for money I owe to the IRS. My response was bring it on.
I am not susceptible to scams, but years ago we did receive a call from our local Social Security Office that we owed them approximately $10,000. We got in the car and went right to the office and it was a legitimate claim do to the fact that when my step-son came to live with us his Mother kept his share of her SS disability. When they learned that we never received one cent from her, they informed us that we could sue her for what should have come to us, however we choose not to do that and also informed SSA that she could keep the money. We did not want it. They said that was not possible, we had to take the money. So we gave it to our boy and taught him how to budget his money.
The sad thing is that my husband’s sister fell for a scam and lost $1,000 dollars. So these are my experiences with scammers. People need to also be aware of people who call and say your computer has a virus or severel and for a certain amount of money they can fix it from where they are now. Shame on all of them, the pukes.