Social Security Informing You About Recent Scams
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: September 10, 2020
The most effective way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams. You should just hang up on any call you’re uncertain of and ignore suspicious emails. Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money and personal information by exploiting your fears.
One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents and other law enforcement. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not comply with their instructions. Just hang up.
As a reminder, you should continue to remain vigilant of phone calls when someone says there’s a problem with your Social Security number or your benefits. If you owe money to Social Security, we will mail you a letter explaining your rights, payment options, and information about appealing.
There are a few ways you can identify a scam call. If you do business with us, remember that we will never:
- Threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee.
- Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
- Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.
- Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem.
- Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
If you do not have ongoing business with our agency, it is unlikely we will contact you. If you get a suspicious call claiming to be from Social Security, you should hang up and report it to our Office of the Inspector General.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: fraud, Office of the Inspector General
See CommentsAbout the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Comments
Comments are closed.
Johnny M.
YES IT HAPPEN TO ME TWICE IF NOT FOR QUICK THINKING I WOULD HAVE LOST SOME MONEY THANKS TO SSI FRAUD NUMBER ……. THANKS SSI
GOD BLESS THE WORLD…
Anita W.
The call says that my social security number is being suspended for frauds against it. I hang up immediately.
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Anita. 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.
Gaby B.
Yo he recibido llamadas multiples, en los últimos dias, llamando diciendo que son del seguro social y que les devuelva lá llamada, al número que ellos me proporcionan, porsupuesto que yo ignoro esas llamadas, en cuanto dicen que son de la oficina del seguro social cuelgo el telefono.
Darlene M.
Just had a call about sending me a Gold card, she was telling me about sending it to me, I asked why she needed to know about me since she was already telling me, and when I said is this a scam she hung up,
hope I did the fight thing,
Casey
Sounds simplistic.
Rodger V.
Thank you for the advisory about scams.
I had a problem with the first item:
…, remember that we will never:
Threaten you with benefit suspension,
arrest, or other legal action unless you
pay a fine or fee.
To me this says that, if I pay a fine or fee, then you will not threaten me with ,,,,
Or maybe there are situations, other than paying a fine or fee, in which you will threaten me.
I tried fixing that item but my mind just gets more tangled. Let’s get one of your more advanced writers to take the confusion out of that item.
Regards,
Kathy W.
I received a phone call stating they were from the social security investigative dept. Asked me to call me back. Was this a scam call?
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Kathy. 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.
munira a.
i’ve been receiving multiple calls a day, sometimes back to back, for the past week.
The calls (MINE at least) are originating from multiple Winchester VA numbers.
i have attempted to return the missed calls and either get “this number is not in service”, or the line rings multiple times before it goes dead or i just get a busy signal.
when i did decide to answer, the call starts off as a recorded message saying “[sic] we have detected multiple fraudulent actions associated with your social security number. because of this we may be forced to suspend your account. it is important that you speak to a social security administrator immediately by pressing 1…”
After pressing 1, an indian guy answers the phone and he says “can you please verify your social security number with me so i can access your account.” Because he did not immediately answer the line and identify himself with either his name or that i was in fact in contact with the SS administration, i say “No. who exactly am i talking to?” ***He immediately hangs up.***
I call him back, it rings multiple times before the line goes dead.
i am STILL getting the calls but now i get immediately hung up on. i cant even tell whoever it is to remove me from their call list.
am unable to use the OIG link provided above to report this…
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Munira. 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.
Hettie y.
Thanks .. what about Medicare callers who to sell Medicare…
Susan O.
Scammer called me today saying that I had a grant for $9,700 they gave me the phone number to the Federal reserve Bank 920-333-2490 they also gave me the grant fund number nt708 and then they hung up on me give me another number they gave me this email it’s called American recovery reinvestment a@acc 2009 I think that’s all I got yes my name is Susan Ortiz o r t i z my number is 561-932-43 32 thank you have a good day