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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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Buck Wheat
July 18, 2019
888-859-9317, same scam, different day. Blocked the number.
begui
July 18, 2019
I just received a phone call telling me that my social is compromised and the phone number is 281 721 4263 and I have to call back.
GO_CA
July 18, 2019
I received a message satiating the SSA department was filing a lawsuit against me and an arrest warrant was filed due to illegal enforcement actions filed on my SS number for frozen activities and I should call back (1-800-674-3403).
rk
July 18, 2019
I just got a call from 800-685-2687 claiming to be the SSA suspending my ss #. I so bad wanted to tell them to get a real job and stop scamming people. They are just a bunch of losers. GET A LIFE.
calledmetoo
July 18, 2019
Called from 877-431-8814, did not answer, went to vm. Female computer generated voice, something about "suspend your social" and "press 1 to speak to". Probably no point in blocking number b/c they seem random. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. End of story.
Lauren
July 18, 2019
I just received two calls from this SS scam one hour apart, but different numbers showed up on my caller ID. Both numbers only had 9 digits: 888139292 and 888853801 . I was busy when the calls came in, but right away knew something was wrong when the "phone numbers" didn't include 10 digits. I listened to the voicemails and they were both the same message from the same pre-recorded voice telling my my SS number was being suspended and to press 1 for more information.
Whsuan14
July 18, 2019
After I apply for replacement card on-line from SSA. I get few calls and tell me, there is a warrant link to SSA number. I assume that is scam. Becuase when I cal back they ask for my name and last 4-digit of SSA Number.
Bea B Duran
July 18, 2019
Got a partial voice mail from 210-880-4923 to return the call to the same phone number or legal action will be taken against me due to fraudulent activity. I called it back, but it's busy.
Ndnjsjnxnjsjdnnd
July 18, 2019
I also received a scam call. The number is ‭+1 (281) 721-4263‬ , for any Texans here don’t believe it.
Iowa87
July 18, 2019
A 888455646 called me around 135pm. The voice mail said my ssn # was being canceled due to suspicious activities.
PB
July 18, 2019
I got a call from (800) 014-0067 saying my social security number is cancelled due to suspicious activity. I promptly pressed #1 and said, "This sounds like a scam." They jerk on the other side laughed and said, "Because it is a scam". After much conversation, he said I am wasting his time and he said he needs to call other people to scam an hung up.
independent
July 18, 2019
received similar social security fraud call from 800-252-7912
OBADrive
July 18, 2019
Just had one (7/18/19 1300PDT) from (409) 803-9876.
ChrisM
July 18, 2019
I keep getting calls from a 1-844-321-2850 and multiple others just like it with a foreign speaking person on the line if you answer. the minute i questioned them they hang up. 9 calls in about 36 hours
JMichael
July 18, 2019
Got a suspicious call about SSA from this number: +1-805-980-1781
nikkim
July 18, 2019
I just got a call too!
nikkim
July 18, 2019
just received ssa scam call from 800-575-5683
Yuri
July 18, 2019
Call from +1 (800) 898-2398. Social security card suspended because of suspicious activity. Press one. Thank you.
Kblanton2011
July 18, 2019
Just got a call and stupidly gave the last 4 of my social and my name so I hope nothing happens but they said I should have been arrested and they were suspending my ssn and also seizing all my credit cards and bank accounts were being seized.
dontfallforit
July 18, 2019
Received a call from a Ventura, CA # 805-809-9703 saying there was suspicious activity and my SS# was being suspended and to press 1 to find out the details. I stupidly pressed 1 and the call hung up. I hope that didn't give them access to my phone or something. I turned it off....
Mary
July 18, 2019
I just got one of these scam calls from 866-931-7075.
Jparker
July 18, 2019
+18008929015 "Fraudulent ssa activity at the southern Texas border"
cdieziger
July 18, 2019
1-800-168-2277 I just received a call from this number. I think it is a scam. It was a recorded message saying that my SSN had been suspended and to press one to find out more. I did and some one with a middle eastern sounding voice came on so I hung up. Is this a scam.
Sky
July 18, 2019
I recently got a phone call about my ss, I didnt answer it cause my phone has Name I'd, we need to get these numbers terminated and they need to stop calling us. Thank God for the robokiller app.
Dee - Wisconsin
July 18, 2019
Robo call and same voice. Said the following: Social security reporting suspend by social security number due to suspicious activity. Oh number calling me was: 800-344-6101
djkr253
July 18, 2019
The prerecorded call turned my cell phone on just b 4 noon PDT. The scam call was similar but non threatening. The robo call suggested that I call back & enter #1 to learn more about swapping my hacked SS# for a new set of # (card?). The voicemail was repeated. I called the # entered (844-959-5200) & the party was temporarily unavailable. I was going 2 ask if they could hear me. Most targeted people realize by now that its the last 4 digits of the SS card # needed to work the scam. The other 5 #'s are not that difficult for identity thieves to figure out.
Janee
July 18, 2019
Just received one of these scams about ss #in voicemail. I never answer phone from unknown numbers. It was from 805 731 0099.
rayna GV
July 18, 2019
I’ve received 8 calls today from this scam. As soon as I block a number it robocalls me from a different 800 number. So I called one of them back, a woman answered the phone “ social security off” and when I went off on her she played stupid and asked if I was looking for an apartment. The minute I said police she hung up.
tony NJ
July 18, 2019
Keep getting calls from 800-254-5826 saying there law enforcement and SSA also a voicemail from 646-593-8974 from the SSA
Linda
July 18, 2019
Just received a scam call from number 850-739-5973 telling me that my social security number has been suspended due to illegal activities. Please call us immediately so we can take action...and they repeated their phone number.
chubs
July 18, 2019
got a phone call from ‭+1 (805) 667-2409‬ saying my social security card has been deactivated due to suspicious activity
Never give you…
July 18, 2019
I just got voicemail to call immediately or i will be arrested 1-855-677-3458
don,t scam me
July 19, 2019
I received a call on 7/18 2019 that said do to suspisious activity on your ssn we have suspended your ssn, very scary but I believe this to be a scam,i do not respond to these calls ,hope I,m not in trouble for this.
Masonic_XD
July 19, 2019
I got these calls 3 times and I thought it was a Chinese man but now i know it's an Indian man because the scammer said there is fraudulent activities and suspicious activities under my name and under my ssn# and asked for my full name and ssn# and maybe my address to confirm after he told me what is going on and I'm so glad I didnt know my social security number because I may have fallen for the trick and actually told him my ssn# When I hung up the voicemail sai I'm getting an arrest warrant issued under my name and ssn# and I was scared. Does anyone have any phone number I could call back to waste this scammers time? I'm so down to call back these scammers and expose them.
Noblesville Person
July 19, 2019
Just received call from 1-844-268-2199 saying that my SS had been suspended due to fraudulent activities...
Maybe Scams????
July 19, 2019
‭+1 (800) 881-1810‬ ‭+1 (800) 520-9201‬ ‭+1 (800) 777-9313‬ Keep calling me They said:Been forced to suspend your social security number immediately Zach do this on your social benefits will be canceled until further clearance. In case you feel this is an error we may connect(?) with the Legal South of social security administration in order to connect to the Social Security Administration office.
Robert
July 19, 2019
Received this call 5:52 PM 7/18/2019 from 1(800)3176980
Blackhawk10
July 19, 2019
I just received a call from 7-706-986-0846. They said they had to suspend my social security number due to fraud activity. Just a heads up in case you are tracking volumes.
Evanston, IL
July 19, 2019
Just received a voicemail with similar (robo)message: "This is officer Ryan Smith calling you from the Department of Social Security Administration. The reason you have received this phone call is to inform you that there is a legal enforcement action filed on your social security number for criminal activities. When you get this message kindly call us as soon as possible on our number that is 424-281-0251. I repeat, 424-281-0251 before we begin legal proceedings. Thank you."
Scammers
July 29, 2019

In reply to by Evanston, IL

I just received the exact same call in California. My call was also said to be Officer Ryan! The number was 210-880-2585
whattf
December 04, 2019

In reply to by Evanston, IL

I received the exact same call. But the number was ‭+1 (866) 659-1633‬. i also think that the recording started too early.
Km
January 14, 2020

In reply to by Evanston, IL

I just received the same exact call verbatim. Officer Ryan smith told me to call 202-681-3314, comes up as a Washington Number.
Rg
July 19, 2019
Got 3 scam calls in the last week from these numbers 1-800-012-4213 1-800-005-4213 Same msg (..your SS benefits will be suspended blah blah) but with a female voice this time. Don't react, just hang up.
consultinghcm1…
July 19, 2019
Just got a scam call from: 1-800-204-0048 with automatic message of having SSN issues.
P.G.
July 19, 2019
In the last six months, I have received over 240 calls from 240 different numbers. I don't answer numbers I don't know or that don't identify with an actual name. I then block the number. Just sitting here this morning, I have already had 3 calls. Ridiculous!!
NJM
July 19, 2019
I never answer calls from unknown numbers. The voicemail I received started out with, "The Department of Social Security ... " - - I was immediately suspicious since the proper name is Social Security Administration!
SnS
July 19, 2019
I also received a call this morning 7/19/19 at 8:41 Pacific. Same male robo voice as others are getting, same message and 'press 1'. Number was (844)628-1268.
Nan G.
July 19, 2019
Got an automated call similar to the one above saying there was suspicious activity with my SS# and to call immediately. I didn't.
pfl
July 19, 2019
I just received a SS call threatening to cancel my SS check. Ha. 1 800 390 7327.
Jimmy C
July 19, 2019
Received a call from (346) 353-5638 claiming to be from the SSA saying my SSN had been suspended due to fraudulent activity and to call them back. BEWARE any calls from this phone number!!