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Have you gotten calls about supposed problems with your Social Security number from callers pretending they’re with the Social Security Administration (SSA)? If so, you’re not alone. Our latest Data Spotlight finds that reports about SSA imposters are surging, while reports about IRS imposters have taken a dive.

As the Spotlight puts it, “In the shady world of government imposters, the SSA scam may be the new IRS scam.” While reports of SSA imposters have swelled – nearly half of the reports we’ve gotten in the last year have come in the past two months alone – reports of IRS scammers have plunged. What’s more, people told us they lost $19 million to SSA imposters in the past year. That overtakes the $17 million reported lost to IRS imposters in 2016, the peak year of the IRS scam.

How can you spot SSA imposters? They often use robocalls to reach you, then launch into a story aimed at tricking you into giving them your money, your Social Security number (SSN), or both. They may say your SSN has been suspended and you need to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Or, they may say your SSN has been involved in a crime and your bank account is about to be seized or frozen, but you can protect your money if you put it on a gift card and give them the code. Never do that – your money will disappear.

If you get one of these calls, remember – the real SSA will never contact you out of the blue or tell you to put money on a gift card or, for that matter, visit a Bitcoin ATM, or wire money. If your caller ID shows a number that looks like it belongs to the SSA, don’t trust the number – scammers fake their caller ID all the time. If you’re worried, hang up and call the SSA yourself at 1-800-772-1213.

Check out the Data Spotlight for more information. If you think a scammer has your Social Security number, visit IdentityTheft.gov/ssa to learn what you can do.

Hang up on Social Security Scammers

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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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Carl
October 04, 2019
1800-009-0887 called me twice saying that my SS number has inappropriate activity and is going to be suspended, but If I press "1" an agent will be right with me to handle the problem.
Mickey Rosado
October 08, 2019
I have received several calls from 1800-490-5049. I knew it was a scam since they threaten to suspend my card and arrest me for fraud. I told them this call was being recorded to which they used many expletives. Reverse look up shows it's a telemarketing company. There should be a website for consumers to provide the phone number and FTC follow up.
Ron
October 10, 2019
Received a call this morning from 844-390-1267, claiming SS was suspending my SS #, due to fraudulent activity in Texas. Weirdos!
DL
October 10, 2019
855/979-1778 called to tell me my SS# had been suspended. Ha! They could not even tell me my #. I ask for badge # and a phone number to verify he was legit, and he hung up on me ...image that!!
Carp
October 11, 2019
Just received a social security scam call. Maryland phone # 443-384-0826.
JMJ
October 15, 2019
recd call from this number stating my SSN had been suspended for fraud. 480-471-5764
robertinatx
October 17, 2019
Received a call from the following number 7133983060 claiming to be Social Security Administration and that they had filed a federal lawsuit in my name. Sounds like a scam where they're fishing for my info did not give any.
Dave
October 17, 2019
+12105387994 has called me twice tonight with a robocall. At least this one was in San Antonio, but still... Claimed to be the SSA and I just hung up.
EWhite
October 17, 2019
Received SSA scam call from (713) 995-8619 on 10/17/19 at 1:15 p.m.
SSAScammersAlert
October 17, 2019
Social Security Scam Operating In US at this Phone Number: 512-961-0238 Do not respond to this number.
SickofScammers1
October 18, 2019
I am over all these scammers! Just got ANOTHER robo caller pretending to be SSA from 281-458-1245 stating they had an order to suspend my "social" and "cease" not seize my assets. 1. I never answer callers I don't know. 2. They always leave a voicemail. I am sick of these calls and having to block these numbers day in and day out. I don't know how they continue to get my cell number especially on a do not call list. But it gets old.
DaveB
October 22, 2019
Received a robocall today from an unknown number. I listened to the whole message so that I could report the phone number that they are using. Who do we report the numbers to so that they can be shut down? the number that I was requested to call was 315-262-0343.
ms. H
October 24, 2019
Received call yesterday from (586) 473-5042 stating something about SS fraud and to return the call to prevent legal action.
Manic21
November 01, 2019
Just got a robocall from 18004139596 stating my SSN has been suspended and I should press "onethankyou". I'm not falling for this, and neither should anyone here.
LabPunk007
November 05, 2019
got a robo call claiming to be ssa. Said a warrant would be issued if I did not try to resolve the supposed ssa fraud. I never responded and they immediately hung up. Got another call same day with a different number. I did not answer, and of course they left no message. I filed a complaint with the ssa same day. God another call from similar number, did not answer and no message. The robo message is very aggressive. Thank you for your service.
1Bagglady
November 06, 2019
Thank God for caller ID. I do not answer any calls that I do not recognize, especially the ones with no name. The past two days have been interesting because area code 281 has been leaving recorded messages saying that my ss number has been used and i need to call before they take legal action. Yes I know better.
Mutantstrain
November 06, 2019
Yea I've had numerous phone calls about ss from all over the country, I don't answer them and they go to message saying some jazz about legal fraud and I block there numbers. DONT ANSWER ANY NUMBER YOU DONT KNOW!!!!!!!!!
Buffalo,New Yorker
November 08, 2019
caller says they are S.S.A. and to call them back at 224-244-9712.. this is a Chicago Area Code. SCAM!
BK
November 12, 2019
I just got a phone call from 1-800-431-8188 saying that they are going to close my SS account if I don't put my last four of my SS number after I puss 1. I hung up because I knew it was a scam. That is the number so do the same thing.
carmen
November 21, 2019
I received a phone call from 708 -713-8077 Telling me I needed to call this number back to them because there was a report of fraudulent activity on my Social Security number and I needed to call them back to keep my number from being suspended, and that it was time sensitive but I did not call back because I know this is a fraud they just wanted to get my Social Security number, and I wanted to give you the number so you could put a stop to their fraudulent activities and I wanted to report it anyway!!!
LC
November 21, 2019
Got this message on my Ans Machine from Jenks, OK: “The number for you to call the SSA back is 918-518-1555 the reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement action filed on your Social Security number for fraudulent activity so before this matter goes to the state courthouse and before you get arrested if you need any information or have any questions kindly call us back at 918-518-1555 thank you…” Erased it!
Amy- CA Cell T…
November 22, 2019
I have had 1 call 202-050-0797. I blocked the call the first time. They still get through & leave voice mail messages to call them back. The caller says they are Officer Maria Gomez from the Social Security Administration. Saying that my SSN has been misused in S. Texas border and to Press 1. For one thing, theydo not use poor quality robocalls and 2nd, this number is a scammer number- not real SSA. If SSA knows you have been hacked, they will notify you not by bad IVR. Thank you.
Block these numbers
November 25, 2019
I have gotten calls today from 800 671 6542 and 855 844 6165 reporting to be SSA.
willis
December 04, 2019
I believe it’s extortion or blackmail. The robot left message at 8:33 am & 1:46 pm Dec 3 to inform me of legal action on my Social Security number due to criminal activities. Then robot voice instructed me to call 803 219 8188 before they begin legal proceedings —— yesterday I got same message at 10:32 & 11:33 am from landline in another state telling me to contact 410 216 5531 before they begin legal proceedings. My blocking apps like Hiya didn’t show any reports or suspicion about these numbers, nor anything when I searched online via google & bing.
no scam
December 09, 2019
got a call from 800-402-9711 saying they are terminating my SSA in broken english.
ASR
December 16, 2019
I have been received a lot of calls related to Social security, something about my SSN will be erased permanently, Is there any way to have a data base of phone numbers with all the reports we are making here? In my case they try couple days from a phone number and then use another one all of them 800 numbers. I've never answer a call that I don't have already registered in my agenda. I think that is something important they will left a voicemail, so then I decide if I call back or not. Here is a list of the phone numbers I got received those type of calls: 1-800-962-7763 1-800-445-9979 1-800-286-5940 1-800-163-9183
Scam Call Alert
December 17, 2019
Getting this month calls from area code 833 with different numbers and voice mail message about SS account locked so call the number back to talk to security officer. In another instance someone called using my phone number two friends pretending I called them to call back which my friends called me to find out if I called them.
s.e.mata
January 14, 2020
these scammers have been calling me all week, threatening me telling I have a warrant for my arrest due to fraud done with my social security number, I tell them that they will be the ones to be arrested and they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to scam people. never believe robo calls or anyone threatening you with being arrested, if there was an arrest warrant for anyone law enforcement is not going to call you to let you know, this scam is so annoying they call 3+ times a day
Concerned Citizen
September 03, 2020
I have received multiple calls from the SSA scammers in multiple ways and it continues despite not responding, phone, text and e-mail. The number they call from is 562-265-3375, the number they give for call back is 866-226-2306. I am worried about people who have no idea it's a scam! Is it possible for the Social Security Administration to do more Public Service Announcements about this? Have any of these people been arrested- they should be! Thanks, CC
socialsecurity…
February 05, 2021
the correct call in number for social security is 1-866-226-2306 and if you call them they will confirm with you who you are with several questions and you can and should question them to verify they are social security with questions about your previous income reported for a prior year that only you and they should know . Note: do not answer any questions if they call you and you can't verify who they are. They will understand. I just got off the phone with them and they are aware of the scams going on..