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Probably not. At least, not from the real SSA. But how many of you have gotten calls from someone who said they were the Social Security Administration? And maybe showed the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID? Lots, right?

We’ve seen a spike in the number of people reporting those fake SSA calls to us. Since January 2018, we’ve gotten more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Three percent of those people reported a loss – and they lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

You can hear what the scam sounds like here. The caller usually says your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Sometimes, he says your bank account is about to be seized – but if you go put your money on gift cards and then give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

To report this scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you're worried about identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov/ssa. And if you get one of these calls, remember:

  • Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. Your bank account is not about to be seized.
  • The real SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.
  • You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.
  • Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you. Ever.

To hear more from the honest-to-goodness SSA and the FTC about these scams, follow the Facebook Live at noon tomorrow on the SSA’s Facebook page.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Edls
March 14, 2020

In reply to by aintskeerd

I received a similar call from the #210-621-7025; due to legal enforcement actions filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities to get more information about this case file from federal data base Press one and speak to our agent now.
samehere
June 18, 2020

In reply to by aintskeerd

I received a call today from 301-979-9798 (Rockville, MD) with a robomessage saying that there is a legal enforcement action filed on my SSN for fraudulent activities.
Kish
September 30, 2020

In reply to by aintskeerd

I just received the same call from 254 256 2032. They ar still at a year later.
Trevi-alo
July 15, 2020

In reply to by lucy

I have received calls saying that there was suspicious activity with my social security number.
Good sharing b…
March 06, 2019
Thank you for these alerts. They are very helpful. I am one of the folks who reported fake SSA calls. I am curious what the threshold number of reports is before a topic gets communicated via an alert and what is done on the enforcement side to lower these scams.
chicken woman
March 06, 2019
i tried calling social security because i lost my wr10 or whatever that form is they mail you. and they switched me to someone who wanted to charge me $5 or $10 for talking to me for telling me how to look it up. i hung up i couldn't believe that. that should be free. i couldn't find the form on the website, but it is free why the charge
No Believer
March 06, 2019
Got one of these yesterday and knew it was a hoax from the start but then, just for kicks, waited on line to actually talk to one of the perpetrators. When he came on and announced himself and told me I was in danger, as you've stated above, I asked him if he really thought I could believe him. Dead silence on the other end and then he disconnected our call. Those deadbeats know they are calling illegally.
GigiBaby
March 06, 2019
I have been complaining about this type of a scam for a few months. I got 5 calls/ threats in a month, and I reported them, my phone has a caller id, even for missed calls, and the numbers I found, I reported. Now, I'm dealing with a Microsoft security scam.
Redhead
March 06, 2019

In reply to by GigiBaby

I have been dealing with Microsoft Security Scam and Credit card scam Low interest rate
Sea2cat
March 17, 2019

In reply to by GigiBaby

I am also dealing with a Microsoft security scam that cost me $4,000
Alan .......
March 26, 2019

In reply to by GigiBaby

GigiBaby. I got that same call today. They left message about Microsoft Security and due a refund. Right. I have never dealt with them nor their scam security. Just hang up and do not even talk to them. Now that I am on do not call list I get more callers wanting to scam me.
radmamapama
March 06, 2019
Ive received them too and knew better, blocking caller or should I report #
mote
March 06, 2019
I simply can't believe that with all the modern tech equipment available in todays age we cannot stop these con men from infiltrating the social security network ? Who's kidding who ?
FTC Staff
March 06, 2019

In reply to by mote

The scammers have not infiltrated the Social Security network, but they want you to believe that. They fake telephone numbers to look like they are calling from the Social Security Administration. That's why you can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID.

RobDon't use y…
March 06, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

So you are saying that the Federal Government can not check do is behind the false phone numbers used for these calls? Have we not been told that the NSA tracks all overseas calls into the states. Key words of SSA should trigger alerts. False numbers using government contact numbers from overseas should trigger alerts. Or is the NSA not capable of doing their job to keep America safe? Come on tell us.
Don't use your…
September 12, 2019

In reply to by RobDon't use y…

I just got a fake call from 18003907133
Irratated
March 11, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

You say they haven't breached S.S., but it's strange that I've only received these calls after making contact with S.S.
lucy
April 03, 2019

In reply to by Irratated

You are so right. I called to set up a phone interview and 2 days later the calls started. 1(888)810-6015, 1(888)810-5813 are the numbers they are calling from. 10 to 15 times a day. I’ll block 1 and they’ll call from another number and leave the same voicemail.
Angie
May 28, 2019

In reply to by lucy

the same exact thing happened to me after i called the SSA office. The scammers immediately called a day later after I made my appointment. How is that possible? How do they know when you make a ligit call ....and call you back and try to scam you out of $?
BL
November 06, 2019

In reply to by lucy

Same thing here. I get around 5 a day. Each time I block, they call again. Just ignore. Don't block because it shows that you occupy the phone and they will just get another number to call you. If you don't answer at all. Then it eventually should stop with them thinking that no one is connected to number.
Mf
June 14, 2019

In reply to by Irratated

Yes it's still happening... never received any scam calls until I signed up for ss benefits online...within a hour of doing so... I personally believe it has everything to do with ss not guarding your information. I reported it but they didn't seem to care...very upsetting!
Tired American
September 07, 2019

In reply to by Mf

Signed up for a my ssa account and started receiving these calls the next day. I had never received this type of call before that. I'm not sure if the SSA sells your info to 3rd parties? Does anyone know how to opt out?
Alan .......
March 26, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

Yes they use Fake numbers because they are allowed to even send you a phone call with your own number. How is that possible? They can even hide their real number just because they can. The laws are made for criminals because they can find some loop-hole in the law. They keep doing it because there is no punishment for doing so. Why rob a bank when you can just do it over the phone or internet. If there are 10's of billions of illegal calls during a year then it seems like no one cares about any laws and they can just keep doing what they are doing because they just can. I am on do not call list and getting more calls. Infiltrated? They even hack web sites by the thousands. It is easy for scammers to do whatever they want when they want. Lets hope someone can come up with a good idea how to stop this insanity.
Jay Gold
March 06, 2019
Had the call this morning from what sounded like an overseas voice. Told them I was reporting them to the government and the hung up.
gerry
March 06, 2019
I have constant voice mails on my cell phone.I do not have a telephone number to delete it. I cannot get it off my phone. I went to AT&T for help. They told me they cannot help. Very annoying. Wish there was a way to stop these voice mails.
Colleenmariie
March 06, 2019
I put my number on you alls DO NOT call list a few days ago and I'm getting MORE calls than before it's ridiculous an getting emails that's fake an suppose to be from Pay.Gov saying I owe money an trying to get my bank account information.
Zulla
March 06, 2019

In reply to by Colleenmariie

The Do Not Call Registry is for pretty much for telemarketers. The aggravating calls we are all dealing with now are scammers from across the world. They aren't checking the lists. They don't care because what they're doing is illegal anyway. But it is surprising that so many bonafide services we all use are able to legally share/sell our information!
Susie
March 06, 2019
Is there some way to STOP these calls?? They are calling my landline (6AM!!!) and cellphone many times during the day. This is an invasion of privacy and I feel sorry for older people who fall for this
Carol
April 07, 2019

In reply to by Susie

The same thing has happened to me for the last 2 months. I am no longer answering my calls Now it I shouldnt be the one paying the price, if there is a class action lawsuit? Please advise. Otherwise what is being done???
J Ed Sley
March 06, 2019
SSA/IRS/USSS steadfastly refuse to take reciprocal measures to halt the scam calls, robocalls and spoofing contacts so prevalent. They refuse to take any action, especially the Social Security Administration. It is easily dealt with by use of electronic countermeasures, but no entity wants to admit that is true. Unlawful interstate communications must be halted.
willowtree
March 06, 2019
I keep getting calls from the same number three times a day approx. the same time. Spam? Tngs and then the phone number. No leaves a message.
Dan
March 06, 2019
Several week ago I received a call claim to be from Social Security, I was told something fishy about my account . The caller then transfer me to an individual that’s sounded to be from India and wanted my name and social security number... I hanged up on them .....(866) 404 0127.... I called them the following day , nothing , it rang and rang , finally , it said Verizon customer unable to respond
1tru1
July 25, 2019

In reply to by Dan

Just got multiple calls from same number/scammer. Robocall saying suspicious activity. Then transfer to Indoeuropean sounding scammer...
consumer person
March 06, 2019
similar calls from 202 area code.
Atridim
March 06, 2019
I received a spam/scam call today in my landline voicemail from Seabrook Texas 1-832-261-4789 that said "legal enforcement action was filed on my SS number for fraudulent activity. Return call before we begin legal proceedings against you." Knowing this was a scam call, I did not reply and am reporting it to the FTC here.
logfarmer
March 19, 2019

In reply to by Atridim

Rec'd several calls over the past couple days just like that from New York number: 718-487-9958. Reported it to FTC. Hope the FTC puts out a warning to inform senior citizens of the scam.
Raziela
June 26, 2019

In reply to by Atridim

I received same spam/scam call on my cell phone just two days ago with the same message that my SS number was being used for fraudulent activity. And two other calls a few months ago one right after the other each time with a different phone number. I did not reply.
Jonalan5
September 04, 2020

In reply to by Atridim

I received the same call from the number in seabrook Texas today
Atridim
March 06, 2019
I received a spam/scam call today in my landline voicemail from Seabrook Texas 1-832-261-4789 that said "legal enforcement action was filed on my SS number for fraudulent activity. Return call before we begin legal proceedings against you." Knowing this was a scam call, I did not reply and am reporting it to the FTC here.
Denny
May 07, 2019

In reply to by Atridim

Got the exact same call today from 833-682-8525. Im retired now with SS and live in the Philippines for the last 3 years. I can understand why people get nervous because you just dont know what you dont know. The reverse number look up showed no negative comments about this number...it does now. Thanks for sharing because it helped me feel a little better about ignoring this.
Not Falling For IT!
September 30, 2019

In reply to by Atridim

Same comments on my robo calls today from Tx. 210-549-9712. Scam for sure, will report to FTC.
NicholasB
October 18, 2019

In reply to by Not Falling For IT!

I received a similar call from a Texas number as well. (210) 660-4516
Annoyed
October 23, 2019

In reply to by Not Falling For IT!

Just got four calls in a row this morning from the same area code: 210-842-6077 (twice from this number), 210-018-3478; 210-8255615
Joe
March 06, 2019
My Wife received a call a few days ago from someone they left a voicemail stating that she was under investigation for drugs and she needed to call this toll free number and speak to one of there social security drug enforcement officers or she would be arrested It was kind of funny because she was sitting at the kitchen table when they called taking her medicine that her doctor give her this is the only drugs she has ever taken
LarryR
May 30, 2019

In reply to by Joe

I received the same call that many are reporting here: "There has been a complaint about my social security and my driver license #." I have now blocked the number they called from, but I'm glad to have checked the FTC website and found that many others have reported the same. If I didn't give them any information (I didn't), I'm safe, right?
REB
March 06, 2019
No one can tell you that you will be arrested. That is the main clue that should alert anyone to a scam. It's a scare tactic that should have been mentioned above.
jadleywasabird
July 02, 2019

In reply to by REB

Thank you so much for telling me that. I always get afraid and look up and try to research those numbers because I’ve never been to jail and never want to. I ruins my whole day and scares me.