Frauds & Scams

Social Security and OIG Establish New Anti-Fraud Units

September 26, 2019 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: June 30, 2021

Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud; we are committed to detecting and preventing it. Our agency is diligent and proactive when it comes to protecting the information entrusted to us.

Since 1997, Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General has worked with other divisions within Social Security to establish the Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Program. The CDI Program helps us identify, investigate, and prevent Social Security disability fraud before benefits are ever paid. CDI Units assist disability examiners in making informed decisions, ensure payment accuracy, and generate significant taxpayer savings, for both federal and state programs.

In 22 years, the program has grown to 46 units covering 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. We have opened several units in the last few years as we work together to provide CDI coverage to all 50 states by 2022.

This week, we are proud to announce the expansion of this successful anti-fraud initiative. Three new statewide offices recently in Bismarck, North Dakota; Boise, Idaho; and Helena, Montana. In addition, the Puerto Rico office has expanded its investigative scope to include cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Since 1997, the CDI Program has contributed $4 billion in projected savings to Social Security’s programs, and $3 billion in projected savings to other federal and state programs.

Learn more about our CDI Program by visiting Social Security’s anti-fraud website.

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About the Author

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. william T.

    This is a number that called me that said if I didn’t call them to verify my S/C number in 24 hour I would have my number canceled? Fraud Right!!??

    503-731-1945

    go catch the bad guys

    • Ann C.

      Hi, William. 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.

  2. FRED T.

    I have been getting Anti Fraud from California. Are these calls from Social Security??

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Fred. 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.

  3. Marianella H.

    I am living out of the US. and in this country besides that made you wait just to open an account for you, they take a big chunk of the check. Is that a legal thing to do? I wonder because other people has told me that the check get reduced a lot. To me I have not received one electronica to the bank, but by mail, and then I never get them, so is obviously they steel them.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Marianella. Thanks for your question. Social Security takes reports of fraud very seriously. If you suspect fraud, visit here to learn what information you need to submit a fraud report. We hope this helps.

  4. Gerald Z.

    gzelinski1@hotmail.com
    how do you check deceased against ssn reuse?

  5. Sandra L.

    800-772-1213, 781-394-9620 and 410-394-9620 have been calling every hour for 3 days saying they are from the social security office and my social has been used in a crime. I’ve tried to block the caller and they still come through

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Sandra. Thanks for letting us know. 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.

      • Shazia T.

        I just got a call saying my SS card is blocked. The number that called is 972-438-2025. They even answer the phone as social security administrations.

  6. Lane D.

    Thanks

  7. Frances b.

    I have been called and told that ” they were with the federal government and I have been found to have been involved in a federal social security scam and the police were on the way to my home to arrest me. I have had several different calls, one said he was a sergeant with the federal government police, and was coming to my home. I’m 71, these scare me, now I very seldom answer my phone. These calls were made from all over the united states.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Frances. 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.

  8. Kerry

    I tried to contact SSI about calls we received from someone saying they were from SSI investigations and we were about to be charged with a crime and jailed. They called 3 straight days with the threat. I called SSI 2 times and just got voice mails and narratives. Never an option to talk to an actual person. The number that called us was 9093455728. It seems to me if you really want to attack this problem, make it easy to report.

    • Dawn M.

      I got the same call saying I could go to prison. The number that called is 512-688-9453. They even answer the phone as social security administrations.

      • Joe B.

        The number they used with me was 560-776-1122 and they called several times a day.

        • Tracy

          Tracy
          I have received 3 calls pre-recorded messages impersonating the SSA, that 1). There has been a compromise at SSA and no need to be alarmed, the SSA investigators are handling the breach at this time (today at 130 pm) PST, and legal matters will be dealt with later 2). Another call just received stating that, those involved are being sought now by our (SSA) investigators, and legal team 3). Have indicated that we (strange directed comment, since they would not know this personally for such calls) should proceed to for further details at this number, however the recording never has provided such details (no need to worry, I did not fall for that scam), as well for, not once did they announce “Who” had their SSA account breached by name, as the last two calls just occurred at 235 PST, and 245 PST…There has been too many dead give-ways on this bogus info..The messages never provided info for you to “Repeat” the msg’s, nor would the SSA repeatedly keep calling you, and finally as, I have picked up the receiver and just kept quite, and no recording ever had been activated, just disconnected…Cheers Mate…T…

        • Christina C.

          (218)916-4957 has been calling my father today. And if you call them back, they answer it as social security. Live operator calls and answers.

          • Ann C.

            Hi, Christina. 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.

      • Mark

        Just received a call from 1-844-774-1597…stating my SS # was compromised and I needed to call. I did and they answered identifying they were from the SS Claims department….when I pushed for information, without giving any of my own, they hung up on me.

        • Bernadette R.

          That has happened to me repeatedly. I tried to call the number back and it’s a bogus number

      • SHEILA W.

        I need justiceagainst ssa

      • Jeffrey

        I just received a similar call opening with a computer driven threat that included reporting to all of our Government agency’s.. I called the number back, answered by an an Indian accent who new my name! I refused to give them any information & said it was a scam. He politely told me to hang up & pay the consequences. Then entire background noise was of multiple voices from the same decent. PA? Unreal….Beware!

    • Larry

      I got a call this morning. A recorded call saying that my social security number had been used in some type of fraud.
      I just hang up and block the callers telephone number.
      At they will have to call from a different number next time.???

      • Era

        Hi
        I just had a call from SSA saying i was under suppishon for frade ! I do not know what they are saying but it is not me that has done all this .

        • jacob m.

          ive gotten more than a dozen calls saying my number had been suspended and was under investigation, all since my wife qualified for ssd a month ago. info leak???

    • PB

      AMEN! Or have a database registry to report that doesn’t involve a person answering the phone. SO simple and the gov makes everything so difficult. Caller IDs are basically worthless and all different with robo-dialing. If they can’t do anything about it just say so in big print on the home page!

      • Marc

        Oh, for Pete’s sake, get a grip! It’s not the government’s fault that there are horrible people out there like hackers, scammers, con artists, and swindlers. Why must everything be blamed on the “big bad government?” That’s just ridiculous and frankly, ignorant.

        • Ligia F.

          They call me every week from this number. 1586 7826396

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Kerry. Thanks for letting us know. 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.

      • Sheryl T.

        Got a call from 916 480-8236 Arcade, CA SS scam call

      • J.W. B.

        Received a call from 803-205-0996 with an automated message from the investigation unit. Deleted and blocked the number.

    • Joanna

      +18777291610 called me

    • CHRISTOPHER T.

      I got the same call and my number was from Washington DC, 202 380-9658

    • Anna R.

      I two got a call saying my Social # was being frozen. The phone number is Soc Sec Admin 1-866-254-2611 3x in one day.

    • Louise H.

      +1 (213) 471-2063
      This is the number on which I was threatened today. Doesn’t our government have a cyber unit? (Rhetorical question ?.) I feel like no one is protecting senior Americans.
      L.H-M in Philadelphia

      • Celia A.

        Ive got a call so many times already, all from different number said theyre from SSA threathening me that SS card is going to be suspended for some type of fraud and had been for investigation. Call the number nobody answered blocked the numbers and here comes another calls fr different numbers, Im getting tired of blocking numbers its not worth my time I have priorities in my life that I needed to do. Can somebody stop all these fraud call. Please help us with these???.???

        • Luis A.

          Hi Celia. 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.

    • Addie P.

      I received the same and the numbers used were 903-228-3226 and 281-624-1873.

    • Laura R.

      I just got that call as well on 10/31/2019 number was 866-702-4377 and I called back and it was a fax # so total scam

    • L. J.

      I Agree! I just got a call from people using the DEA’s phone number! 214-3666900 – I wrote the number down – called it back and got the DEA! I decided to get on the SSA website to report it – as I just got the call 2 minutes ago – Where is the “report fraudulent calls” TAB!! Please make one!
      L.Jakober

  9. Anthony M.

    I have been invited to collaborate with federal reserve payment improvement solutions and will also love to participate in the s.s. fraud unit’s desired outcome.my name is Anthony bullard_email.anthonybullard227@yahoo.com. Cell:4044923107-4047342101.

  10. Margaret J.

    I hope this effort helps! It is also good to know that $$$ and more can be saved!

Comments are closed.