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Earlier this month, we told you about a growing scam: people pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money. That scam is now growing exponentially. To compare: in 2017, we heard from 3,200 people about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000. So far THIS year: more than 35,000 people have reported the scam, and they tell us they’ve lost $10 million.

Here’s what one of those scam calls sound like:

Scammers are saying 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’ll say your bank account is about to be seized – but he’ll tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving him the codes – which, of course, means that your money is gone.)

Oh, and your caller ID often shows the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) when these scammers call – but they’re faking that number. It’s not the real SSA calling.

Here's what to know:

  • Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized.
  • SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time.
  • The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA. Even if the wait time is long, confirm with the real SSA before responding to one of these calls.
  • Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you. Or your bank account or credit card number.

If you get one of these calls, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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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.

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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
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SurviverSally
September 11, 2019
Yesterday I received 3 calls from 800-375-1856, 800-237-5826 and 800-623-3641, all saying my SS was being suspended because of suspicions activity. I'm very stressed out, and have been unable to get a hold of SS office. It's always a recorded message.
Bryan
September 11, 2019
I just received a call from the "SSA" stating the same thing. The number that called me 817-406-8724. He admitted that he was trying to scam people. Please beware of this person
vkn
September 11, 2019
I'm Keep getting several calls on this issue. MY SSN is going to get cancelled. How to avoid this. Numbers begin with 800-553-2276, 281-1870, 391-9408 etc
mel
September 11, 2019
I would like to report a spam call number: 1 800 970 7042. It says the SSN is suspended, etc. Please block.
Tkhhk
September 11, 2019
Today I receive two call to my personal cell phone with the id number 18008382129, the message urge me to call back with this number due to there is suspicious activity on my SSN account and it may suspend if not call back. They recall after 30 min.
carole singleton
September 11, 2019
i have rec'd 2 phone calls one last week and one just now , stating they are going to suspend my social security. they have an order to do this in the next 24 hours basis, because we have found suspicious activity. and I'm to call 415 842 9461 (Novato CA). in order to review my case file. and both phone message has given the same information to me.
bmarie08
September 11, 2019
I received a call from 1-800-024-3574 with a message stating my SS number had been compromised and will be blocked until I contact them.
Aiken sc
September 11, 2019
New phone number for this scam 1-866-034-3448
MXoff
September 11, 2019
Just got a call from 800.886.8502. In Miami area.
Caller12
September 11, 2019
Received a similar call from tx number 512 -402 5295 saying my ssn was involved with fraudulent activity and I will be prosecuted if I do not call back.
crazy bill
September 11, 2019
The number 667-041-9875 is a fraudulant call.
David
September 11, 2019
I received two calls today 9/11 2019 that said do to suspisious activity on your ssn we have suspended your ssn. If we don't talk to you, an arrest warrant will be issued against you. This was the numbers 1-866-161-2132 & 1-866-789-6571
djuro
September 11, 2019
I got a fake scammer call from (800) 045-5983. I didn't pick up ... this is the content of the message: Dear citizen this is to notify you that due to a certain suspicious activities related to your social security number. We have been forced to suspend your social security number with immediate effect due to this all your social benefits will be canceled until further clearance. In case you feel this is due to an error. You may connect with legal cell of Social Security Administration. In order to connect with a Social Security Administration officer, press one now... Be aware! Do not share your SSN with anyone over the phone.
Holdman
September 11, 2019
I had 2 calls, one saying my SS# had been suspended, another threatening legal action left on my Voicemail. how do report this?
Ziggly
September 11, 2019
There at it again just called me and said push 1 I hung up .
JMN
September 11, 2019
Caller informed me that my SS# had been compromised in Texas and within 48 hours it would be cancelled. I needed to call 833-577-3774 to clear up.
Redsux38
September 11, 2019
Just received a voicemail from # 512 991 8197 saying they were from SSA and had orders to suspend my SS number because of fraudulent activity associated with it. Called them back and had a little fun with them. Please understand that your SS# will NEVER be suspended under any circumstance. Never give out your number or any bank info. Keep your hard earned money.
CLW1975
September 11, 2019
My call today came from 854-227-6091 South Carolina area code. Robo call said my SSN was suspended and I should press 1 to speak to a representative. I did not. Tried to do a reverse lookup. It didn't led to any government office so I figured it was a scam.
Fixter
September 11, 2019
This is a scam robo-call with no accent directed to NYC (on 9/11, no less). It tells you that suspicious activity has been detected regarding your Social Security account/number, and that the number has been SUSPENDED. Then the voice invites you to “press 1” if you want to fix things. The phony number is 866 597-6216. Do NOT press “1.”
Citizen
September 11, 2019
Just got one of these from 800 431 8643. Delmarva area. Same robovoice, said my ssn was being suspended and legal action taken against it. So yah if someone googles that number hopefully you see this. Phone companies really need to take care of this, roboscams are getting crazy.
In Los Ángeles…
September 11, 2019
A recoded machine just called me from 866-876-0130 saying that my social security number was been suspended due to suspicious activity and that I had a warrant so that I needed to press 1.... I did to tell this hacker to stop bothering people and when I did he started cursing at me then he hang up.... i just redial the number and the Radisson Rewards Customer Service department answered the 3 times I called back in a row... on the last call I explained the lady which was extremely nice the situation and she apologized because today they had been receiving my type of phone calls complaining about someone calling them from this number.... I further googled the number and it actúa confirms that the 866-876-0130 numbers belongs to Radisson Reqards Program.... be careful with the scammers....
Way Too Smarti
September 11, 2019
I received a call from a man with an Asian or Chinese accent. He said he was from the Social Security Administration. I knew right away that it was a scam. It was too much noise in the background and his English was horrible. He asked me for some number. I hung up and blocked the number. PEOPL PLEASE BE AWARE! 1-800-718-4563
Seahawksfan24
September 11, 2019
was called from a phone number 1 800 826 9157 telling me my social security was going to be suspended due to suspicious activity.
acolmena
September 12, 2019
The call I receive is of a live person, as if in a call center. Not a recording like the example provided.
Not that smart
September 11, 2019
New number 1/855/268/0308
HD
September 11, 2019
getting calls from a robotic women from +1 (888) 746-5620 saying that my SSN services have been removed
Dont use email…
September 11, 2019
I got a call from 800-442-1323... Saying fraud something something ect. An police depart will be notified.anyone heard of this being a scam?
NiceTry
September 11, 2019
I got a call saying my SS# was going to be suspended lol.....yeah okay. The call back number they gave me was 877-970-4457
Nicole
September 11, 2019
Do not pick up a call from (214) 206-1781 because they will ask you for your social security number. This is a scam!
babba
September 11, 2019
today, I got 3 calls from 877-219-0040. in the first 2 calls, I ignored it. when I got 3rd call, I called back. they said exactly same thing as above. I gave last 4 digits number. they asked my date birth. I suddenly alert and did not tell them. I asked them to send paper letter to me and hanged up. my god, I was almost taken in.
Concerned
September 11, 2019
Got calls from 18006810124, 18003062875, 18005039372 telling me that my social security number would be blocked if I do not call them back.
Judy
September 11, 2019
I received call from 415-842-9461 saying my social security identity has been stolen and that all my accounts will be closed for 90 days and some incident happened in Texas, and that the police would be at my door in the morning to serve me papers .This is terrible
Mimi1
September 11, 2019
I keep getting a call from ssa stating im going to jail for some damn reason. Phone number is 808-213-7087
Don't use yous…
September 11, 2019
Two to three times a day I am receiving telephone calls informing there is suspicious activity concerning my SS #. Today from these numbers: ‭+1 (760) 614-8008‬ (Lone Pine, CA) ‭+1 (800) 366-1225‬ ‭+1 (800) 366-1444‬
Alex
September 11, 2019
Got a call from (512)524-3446 asking for my social security number and asset control.
US Navy Veteran
September 11, 2019
Many of these fake calls have told me I am getting a new PLASTIC CARD that replaces the paper social security card. They want to verify my number to be stamped on the new card. I throw them a curve ball. I thank them ever so much for my new card. Tell them; oh I got mine already, thank you. This confuses them and they hang up on me. Now calls now for Thirty Days !!
Concerned in MA
September 12, 2019
Fraud call this morning from 774-202-9952
another concer…
September 12, 2019

In reply to by Concerned in MA

I received a call from this number as well
Mom
September 12, 2019
Woman robot voice Social Scam call used number 1-800-772-5739
Barb
September 12, 2019
I keep getting a call from 425-292-8596, message stated that there has been some use of my SS# and they need be to return their call to discuss the problem. Agent Cathy Richardson is who they say is calling.
956 620-2231
September 12, 2019
I received a Robo Call from Marie Gomez from "SSA" who left a message that my Social Security number had been "suspended do to some reason" and to call back on 956 620-2231. Apparently they have been running this scam for years from what I read on the FTC webpage.
Moreno
September 12, 2019
Received call from 1-800-7820794 also 1-800-7432058 saying my SS was going to be blocked and to talk to a SS administrator, press 1.
YM
September 12, 2019
Received a call on 9/12/2019 from 866 369 0112 telling (automatic voice) that the my SSN is uspunded ...
Mani
September 12, 2019
I got the call from 833 494 2043
Tim stevens
September 12, 2019
I just got a call from ‭(800) 010-7962‬ make sure you dont answer that one
MarshallDillon
September 12, 2019
The number that called me was 833-857-0630.
MoosOma
September 12, 2019
I received a call from 1-800-169-4432 on my cell . It stated exactly what the recording above did. Blocked the number but not sure where to report it.
Char
September 12, 2019
just got a call from "SSA" saying my social security number was suspended from 846 632 4256. Mr. Harry Anderson, with an Indian accent no less, told me there was an arrest warrant out for my arrest due to SS fraud. As soon as he asked for my SS number I said no and he hung up....
olive73
September 12, 2019
‭+1 (800) 973-4865‬ Called saying my SSN was suspended and asking for my Information - scam
Donatelli
September 12, 2019
I received the same recording on my home phone last week, early September 2019. My area code is 773. It's too ridiculous for words.