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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Sandra K.
I received a SPAM call claiming to be from the SS office in Dallas. I knew it was a scam but tried to get as much info as possible. They claimed they were ‘freezing’ my SS number. When the supervisor got on the line and asked what was my credit limits on my credit cards, I said I have no idea. He then asked me how much money I had in the bank and I said 40 dollars. After telling him I had not been to Texas, he realized I was on to him and said Is it possible you visited Texas in a previous life. When I busted out laughing he hing up.
Belinda
I’ve been getting calls from different 800 #’s with a voicemail saying that my ss is being on hold do to suspicions actions? Im thinking its fraudulent cause I would think I would have gotten something in the mail. Is this part of the fraudulent scams?
V.V.
Hi Belinda, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our most recent blog post:
Inspector General Warns Public About Caller ID “Spoofing” of Social Security Fraud Hotline Phone 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.
Kelly
You should mail information to SSI /SSDI recipients. Most don’t have electronic access to this information.
In the grocery store where I work, we stop people from buying gift cards for these scams all the time. Prime time news reports would be another way to let them know. Several reports, revisited often would be helpful.
Carol D.
I believe I received a scam call claiming my Social Security number has been suspended…the voice mail message sounded robotic…the call came from Worcester, NY.
phone number 160787808908. Notice it has 4 extra numbers.
If you need to call me 1-317-903-3020
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Carol. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can find additional information here. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Kimberly A.
I received a call on my voice mail saying that my Social Security number is suspended and if I wanted to know about it to press 1 thank you. I wrote the number down and any time I get called from that number I will just ignore it and delete my voice mail when they leave a message. The number is (866)404 -5033. So I know its a scam and will not answer it. If I don’t know a number I never answer my cell. Thank you for this information I read.
Reinaldo A.
I recently received an automated phone call that stated that my SS# was suspended due to suspicious activity.(770) 744-2062 Atlanta Georgia. This seemed very questionable to me so i’m writing to if it was actually social security who tried to contacted me. Thanks for your regards.
Reinaldo A.
I recently received an automated phone call that stated that my SS# was suspended due to suspicious activity.This seemed very questionable to me so i’m writing to if it was actually social security who tried to contacted me. Thanks for your regards.
Scott B.
You know I have been searching for a way to simply forward a fraudulent email phishing scam. But their seems to be no way to easily just forward an email to you . A pain in the butt so this scammer will not be reported. I can’t readily copy and paste the entire thing into this or any other “contact us form” just list an email.
V.V.
Hi Scott. At the Contact Social Security web page, click on Email Us. However, if you suspect you have received a scam email, you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Sandra H.
They are out there again claiming to be from you. Name that is given is Mike Miller and it is a Georgia phone number. Has a heavy Indian accent.
tracy s.
I was contacted by phone number 610-268-7641 saying it was social security legal. I live in north Carolina and caller id said call came from Avondale, pa. when I called back man said his name Jason lee. please look into this matter as he scared me.