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.
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Tags: fraud, Office of the Inspector General
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Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Sally S.
I am getting calls at least every
3 weeks it started in 1998 ,
And I tell them that I know that they are not SSI and that they need to stop. But they have not so what can I do..
All so I have been having money taken from my account from the, Amazon and I keep telling them that I don’t have any Amazon account and that I have never bought anything Makeup
But I got charged anything please call me at this # 606-282-0597 please
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Sally. 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.
Pete c.
I get many of these calls and play along with them until the end, it is a way to have a little fun and wastes their time.
Anthony T.
Great that you are taking the.time to commuicate with use.
. If it helps one person it will be worth it. Thank you.
Margsret P.
I talked to the social security and they threatened to take my little 265.00 never got increases either . My grand son was getting sai for nearly 20 years he went to jail the checks came to me under my name he got 750 I worked all my life and only got 265 so my grandsons check played the Bill’s what was I to do Yes I had to keep it for a short while so they are making us pay it back wene he gets back on it wene he gets out . How do you like that ????????
Karen C.
I am not an employee of the government but just someone reading this blog because I recently received an email claiming to be from the Federal Reserve Bank trying to scam me. Having said that, it seems like common sense should tell you that you probably should have sent his checks back instead of cashing them. Things like that are too easy to find out nowadays. Eventually, all fraud can be traced back to the person doing wrong through a paper trail leading from the money. If you can prove the money was rightfully yours then this may have a different outcome. However, cashing a check which is not made out to you is probably never going to be considered acceptable. That is why most banks no longer accept “third party checks” anymore, because the check is written out to another person If I were you I might get myself an attorney to protect my rights. Good luck to you. I hope everything works out the way it should.
Karen C.
I re-read your email and see the checks were made out to you on his behalf. Get a lawyer. You should not lose your $265 over this. Sometimes govt workers have zero compassion for us poor folks. Good luck!!
Ahmed A.
I was exposed to a scam via a phone call and was given my Social Security number, first name, last name, and I would like help
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Ahmed. 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.
Teresa C.
I had a call from 323-408-1983 about an extension notice from social security. I call my local ss and was told to call you.
Vonda V.
Hi Teresa, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Angela H.
I’ve had two calls today my ssn was linked to crime if didn’t comply I would be arrested
There phone numbers are
318-578-3479
318-578-6223
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Angela. 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.
Patricia M.
I received a text message saying my social security had been suspended. I feel sure this was a scam call and wanted to report it. The number it came from is +1(386) 853-6897. Thank you for looking out for us.
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Patricia. 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.
Dick H.
You can always have a little fun for yourself when you get any unsolicited phone calls. For instance, try to keep the operator on the line for as long as possible — waste as much of their time as possible — act as if you are really old and feable, and vulnerable. Make up a fake name, and spell it out super slowly. Tell them that you are so old that you think your SS# is “3,” but “please hold on for a minute while I go to look it up,” and just set the phone down and walk away. Come back every 60 seconds to see if they are still there: “Ooh, I almost found it. Just a second more, please.” See if you can come up with some more ideas to share here. Wait a second…!!! Is this site that popped-up in my news-feed a scam, too?!
Mike
I had a robo call from (914)339-9538 claiming to be SSA regarding a breach. Could not find any info with reverse phone lookup except from New York. Could be a very recent scam number. Thought you should know.
Vonda V.
Thanks for letting us know, Mike. 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.