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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Daniel J.
I received a call at 5:00 a.m. this morning stating my Social Security number was invalidated. The robot claimed it was from the Social Security Administration. I’m sure it’s a scam. The telephone number they called from was 1-209-528-7211 in Waterford, California
DW
Just received a phone call from a robo saying they were from the SSA and to press 1 to speak with an officer, that my SS# would be deleted and all my assets frozen if I did not speak to an officer. The number on my cell phone was 888-772-1218. I hung up.
V.V.
Hi there, thank you for checking in with us. That was not a call from Social Security. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our two recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Patrick C.
“__________ for something illegal activities it’s very time sensitive and urgent that I do hear back from you before we proceed further with suspension of your social and asked at my direct call back number is 209-883-__95 again the number is 320-988-3625 thank you…”
I received this message and believe it is fraudulent.
V.V.
Hi Patrick, thank you for checking in with us. That call is not from Social Security. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our two recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Lloyd N.
Nov 1, 2018 received a scam phone call claiming to be from SSA with an arrest warrant. The number they left was 833 357-5092.
R.F.
Just a reminder — If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thank you!
Phyllis m.
I got a call twice today asking for my information and saying my account was injeprody , the number calling me is. 1 347 990 2463!
R.F.
Thank you for sharing, Phyllis. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
Just a reminder – If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Lora H.
I tried calling to report a SSA scam call I received on my phone, I’m not going to turn around and then give my SS# to an 800 number I found on the internet, there is no need to get my SS# for this. Caller said they were SSA 401-227-0330 – Scituate, RI per I phone data, called 9:08, 9:54 10:41, with a recorded message , I returned the call and asked them How stupid they thought I was, they then immediately disconnected and the number is now busy.
Jane S.
I received one of those calls. I also haven’t received my new Medicare card yet. My address is 53 Allen Avenue apt 5, Portland, Maine 04103. Thanks.
Maureen B.
On Sept. 19th an automated call came in at my desk supposedly from Social Security. They stated that my card would be pulled due to suspicious activity. They gave this number to call 407-554-5503. I figured this was a scam so I did not call. Was I correct in not calling?
Prefer A.
Received an identical call this morning, only the number to call back was changed to 509-790-3596. Seemed odd so I came online to look it up.
Dorothy K.
Receiving calls from 240-830-3507 saying the same thing as you are listing.