Scams Come In Many Different Forms
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2021
Social Security is at the forefront of keeping your online data secure, but you play a vital role in safeguarding your personal information too.
Scammers commonly target people who are looking for Social Security program and benefit information. You might receive an advertisement in the mail, but it could be from a private company or even a scammer. U.S. law prohibits people and businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t lead people to believe that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or endorsed or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare).
If you receive misleading information about Social Security, send the complete advertisement, including the envelope it came in, to:
Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline
Social Security Administration
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
Scams can also happen online. A growing tactic for scammers is to use online dating sites. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service’s recent messaging, before starting an internet-based relationship, we should always keep our personal details to ourselves until you meet face-to-face. Next, do an internet search of the other person’s name and the town they claim to be living in.
Here are indications that someone may not be who they say they are:
- A mismatch between their name and the name embedded in their email address.
- There are obvious spelling and grammar errors.
- They asked if you would send or receive money/packages on someone else’s behalf.
- They need money right away due to a medical emergency, or they need a visa or air tickets. Or, a business opportunity arose that was too good to turn down. Can you wire a loan?
If anyone asks for your Social Security number, never give it to them. And if they are specifically pretending to be from Social Security, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission. You work hard and make a conscious effort to save and plan for retirement. For more information, please visit the Office of the Inspector General’s website.
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About the Author
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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DEBORAH C.
I just received a call from 614- 697-4425 stating they did an investigation and to call them immediately because i soon will be going to jail
L.A.
Hi Deborah. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Michael C.
I just received a Robot call from this number# 336-754-9065, stating from Social Security and to avoid a penal subpoena from the office of the Inspector General. The robot call advised me to call a certain number but I hang up before getting the number. This call seems really suspicious…
L.A.
Hi Michael. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Mary
Talk about fraud. Ssa sent me two letters saying I owed a certain amount so I paid it. So now they jacked up amount to double what they initially said. Let me state this was open enrollment, there was no gap and I paid full amount for the quarter. I shouldn’t have to fight over what they wrongfully did to me. I paid it in full. This is yet another example of fraud on ssa part. And it’s for Medicare so I paid Medicare. Ssa included no envelope nor did it give billing address. So roll the dice and guess where to send payment?
Judy W.
If they say they are from SSA….hang up immediately!!!!!!
Jackie
I too am receiving “Dear Citizen” calls that my ss benefits are being suspended. They are coming from 800-269-0271, 855-984-7771
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Jackie. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Deborah A.
Hi, received a phone call today around 3pm saying my social security has be suspended. Gave me a phone number 415-446-9307 to call back. Called back it was a Verizon voice said the phone number has been changed or disconnected. So I called my Social Security office and they told me I need to contact you. I hope everything is ok.
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Deborah. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Brad
Received a phone call from 210 331 7270 saying my SS# had been compromised and I needed to call this number back before the case went to the State or I was arrested.
I did nothing
A.C.
Thanks for checking in with us, Brad. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Kelvin N.
Hi….Today I visited Social Security Administration to apply for a social security number. About an hour from the time I left the building, I received a call from 662 510 4195 claiming that my social security number will be cancelled because I got involved in money laundering. They went ahead to ask for my name and location, since am new in the United States, I thought the call was genuine. I gave them my name, level of study, date of birth and location. Kindly help
L.A.
Hi Kelvin. Thanks for letting us know. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Richard P.
I Got a call from San Antonio Texas and they left a voicemail on my cell phone. The voicemail was I had better call them back immediately before they suspend my S S number and I get arrested. the no is 210-399-4459. I called them and he told me I had been embezzling money through my bank. I told him was not authorized to do that because Social Security sends a letter they don’t call. I asked him did he send a letter on several occasions and then he hung up on me.
Rebecca M.
I was receiving calls saying my SSN has been deactivated due to suspicious activity. My caller ID said “United States of America” so I took it seriously. I wasn’t able to call back the number, and I can’t remember exactly (it was a while back) but I think I was in Mexico and couldn’t dial a toll free number. I forgot about it after that, thinking if my number is really canceled, I’ll hear more from someone. Yesterday, I received a call saying something about a fraudulent income tax filing and that so far, I’m being linked with 4 crimes and that if I don’t call them within 4 hours, I will be taken into custody, except they didn’t say it like that – they said something like “Federal agents will come and arrest you” and I just thought “go ahead” because it wouldn’t take much investigating to see that I haven’t done anything, and I’m pretty sure if it was that serious, they wouldn’t be calling me. Anyway, I called the number they left – fast busy signal. I’d love to know what’s being done about this. It’s almost as if the government doesn’t care that people are getting scammed. I had a similar experience with a CraigsList scam – I called the police to report it, and they referred me to the FBI because internet crimes are Federal. She gave me a website address where I complete a report of the instance and that was that. I never heard another word. Very frustrating when people aren’t being protected because laws aren’t enforced because the government doesn’t have time and doesn’t care.
Sal S.
I have been receiving a robo-call stating that an arrest warrant had been issued against me due to some sort of fraudulent activity on my SSN – from 2026435742
L.A.
Hi Sal. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying 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 also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.