Your Social Security number isn’t suspended. Ever.

When you get these calls, have them tell you what they know, but don't conform or deny anything for them. After you get what you want or just get tired of talking to them, just hang up the phone in the middle of their sentence.

IF you answer your phone ( and if you don’t recognize the number, I wouldn’t), whoever they ask for, even if it’s you, tell them to hold on, I’ll go get them, put the phone down without hanging up, and continue doing whatever you were doing.

Can these scammers be prosecuted legally? If so, what steps are being taken to do so?

Thank you for the heads up. I'm sure they'll be calling me soon they always do.

Just got that call yesterday. I thought as much. Hung up. Never thought about it again.

Computers are humans enemy in this day and age. Anyone can get your information from the internet. If the world would go back to pen and paper, we would not have all of these electronic scams and identity thefts like we do. It was harder to steal a person's identity when the government used pen and paper. Easier is not always better.

My respects and consideration Would you be so kind as to inform me what I should do to verify my Social Security number You would be so kind to communicate. I am at your disposal thank you very much

I find it so hard that so many people are taken in by these scams. They must, or the scammers won't stay in business.

I would seriously like to know why the FTC/DNC is not forcing the sources of the calls to be investigated thoroughly? The FTC has the authority to force internet and phone companies to setup programs that check, verify and eliminate illegal calls, but yet the FTC doesn't force them to do this. Make the internet providers and phone companies start to verify every call, it doesn't mean they monitor the call, just verify that it is legitimate by using the IP address of internet or the phone verification process, and this will start eliminating robo-callers because their machine ID will be the soul way of stopping the robo-dialers. Each machine has its own IP/MAC address and it would not be hard to stop any computer generated call fro going anywhere past to internet Controller or the telephone detector . Of course it would take the FTC and other federal agencies to force the makers of those robo machines to set a code that all internet and telephone companies can block. First line of defense is to stop it from the source, then second line of defense is the internet providers and the telephone companies, and third line of defense is for the Federal agencies to impose massive fines (not a few thousand, but a few hundred million dollars for any offense that is caught, trust me if they get caught several times and end up going to jail for 10 + years for each offense it will start eliminating a lot of illegal actions. BUT... The FTC and FEDERAL Agencies need to start by sending out notices and investigating every complaint call, not just one out of every ten thousand complaints, finding the culprits and not only fining the crap out of them but also sending them to jail for illegal actions.

I do not bank online. I do not answer any call whose number i do not know. I was fooled once by someone that I thought was from Apple to fix my computer and I let him on to my computer.From there he got on to my bank account. I had to change all my account numbers and hope that I cured that problem.Never again will I let anyone onto my computer. If I have a problem, I will take my computer to an apple store.

I got this call today and knew it was a scam but what is unsettling is the actual 1-800 number on caller Id matches the actual 1800 number of the social security administration. I am sure there is some spoofing they are doing but it is unsettling.

I had a very pleasant conversation with a young lady at the FTC this morning concerning this scam. I was asking her if there was something to augment the do not call list for robo calls - she suggested “nomorobo” app. So I now have that on my cell phone!! Thanks for the great suggestions!

Thanks for this blog...Over the last month I have received two voice messages on my mobile phone and I did answer a third call. The voice messages say "this is the Social Security Office calling to alert you that your social security will be discontinued, due to the SS number being used for illegal activity." The message goes on to say that if you "want to prevent this from happening you need to call immediately." Then what is weird; is the message goes on to say, "If you choose not to return our call then all I can do is wish you good luck!" What Social Security employee would say that to some one? I have not returned the call. The call I answered was different in the description of the situation. It was a call from a woman stating to be an officer for the Social Security Administration. I did not think to write her name down as I was surprised by the call and I could barely understand what she was saying. She said her name was "Officer Patricia or Paula.... something" and that she had been "reviewing a list of social security numbers that were slated to be cancelled" At this point, I asked her to repeat herself, because I could not really understand what she was saying. She, then got very angry and in exasperation, said "I SAID THAT... I was reviewing a list of social security numbers that were slated to be cancelled." I replied, "That is ridiculous!" -Not that I have ever expected to get any SS benefits in the first place, by the time I am eligible, despite paying into it....- I asked her, "Why are you being short with me?" I then repeated back to her, "So, you are calling me to tell me that my Social Security benefits are going to be cancelled?" I asked for her to repeat her name and to speak to her supervisor, at which point she hung up on me. I tried calling the SS Administration to report these potential scams, and after being reminded at length of the details of the limited paperwork laws, my call was placed in queue; at which time, the outgoing message said that "calls were answered in the order they were received" and that I would have a "couple hour hold time." After holding for sometime, I called the my local County Police to report this a fraud, in an effort to be on record. I asked if they could trace the call from the caller ID, and they said that typically the scammers use a burner phone, which is not traceable. They said that they really did not file reports like this, and the officer recommended that I call the GSA fraud dept. to file a complaint. I did this, but the number routed me back to the SS queue line for the over an hour hold time again. I received another phone call / voice mail a couple days later. Per the caller ID, The first was from Capitol Heights, Maryland and the second was from New Hampshire. It's weird that I have received three of these in one month. Grateful, I thought about them being scams, but I do wonder about those elder folks who rely on SS, how they might respond to a call like this hearing that their SS benefits will be discontinued...

Received a recorded message today stating the same thing. Call back number was 215 709-1127

Received a recorded message today stating the same thing. Call back number was 240-489-5140

They keep calling me . today they called 10 times is there anything I can do to stop getting calls ?

I received a similar message today from (713) 331-5536.

My husband received this call twice in one morning and it wasn't from a 800 #. so it went to his voicemail. call back # was 740-365-4952. I called it from my work phone and the people actually answered. When i said "How do i know you are from the SS Dept, they hung up on me".

At 3:13 pm on November 21, 2018, received one of these calls. The number was 224-836-5430, which appears to be a Palatine, IL location. I let the unrecognizable number go to voicemail and the recording sounded like a robocall and not a real person. I had received another one of these calls (robocall and not a real person) earlier in the week, but the telephone number was an Annapolis, MD number, which seems odd (same type of call but from different states). After the first call, I called social security, but waited on hold for a while. I then went to the internet and saw that these calls are a scam.

Thanks for all the posts to alert people about the scam. I got 2 calls from 8007721213 this morning, said that my SSN will be suspended.... So I Google the number and found all kind of info about the scam. Thanks.

I just received one of these scam calls from a bogus "Social Security Head Office" stating my SS# was compromised and would be cancelled --from Union NJ phone number 908 349 0256. Ha yeah, right! A dead giveaway right there. I contacted Social Security on their website, and then I contacted the FTC.

Got 2 calls from 800-772-1213 (the real number for SS administration) and answered the 2nd one. A female voice on the recording told me my SS benefits were about to be suspended due to suspected fraud. I hung up and blocked the fake number thinking, yeah right.

Got three calls from 330-892-8838 today, person claims to be Officer somebody from SSA calling about suspended number. It's a scam, just want to warn others, especially during the holidays when these called are more frequent. Just block them.

I received a voicemail message this morning, I called the number back. I questioned their reasoning for calling and asked what the name of their business was. He vehemently stated that he was from the SSA (Social Security Administration). The phone number that was used today 805-270-2948. Be careful, they are trying to get your personal information to use, DO NOT GIVE IT OUT!!!

I received a call from the phone number for SSA and was told my Social Security number was being suspended due to a case in Texas. The person on the phone told me his name was Robbie Watson and his employee number was 866724 and that my case number was 648592. He asked me if i had ever been in Texas and i told him no, only passed through the state during a plane trip. I would not give him my Social Security number and told him to send me something in the mail. He stated that by the time I would get the letter it would be too late that any bank accounts I had would already be frozen along with my SSN would already be suspended. He stated I needed to take care of this today because use within 24 hours I would not have access to anything attached to my SSN. Then he wanted my email address and then he paused and said it would take at least 24 hours to send me a email because he had so many emails to send so all I needed to do was for me to just go e him my SSN. I told him that would not be possible and I would have my attorney contact him as soon as possible. He then hung up the phone.

I receive these calls two or three times a week. I answered once and got a real person who promptly asked for my name and ssn. When I refused to give either this person became threatening. I told him that his rudeness was not encouraging me to give him any information. He threatened me again and asked for his supervisor. He said he was the supervisor so I hung up mid sentence. Same number called back about two minutes later but I missed the call - I was going to mess with him again. Do not ever give them information- not even your name.

Let me say this once in capital letters. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CALL YOU IF YOU OWE TAXES OR THEY BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM OF FRAUD. Stop falling for this scam!! If you are in trouble in any way either you will get a letter from the government OR the police will visit you. Even if you get a letter, go on the internet, get the valid number for the agency who wrote you AND then YOU call them to validate the letter or whatever complaint that has been filed against you. 99% of the time, the agency will tell you no such complaint exists in their system and you can ignore/block the BS number/letter and go about your business.

I received a call from the actual Ssn office 800 772 1213 saying that my ssn is being use on illegal actions and will be suspended and need to talk to an officer immediately.

I received a call at 8:45 am today...800-772-1213 SS office number...so I picked up. Recorded message stating same as many others got ...about how my SSN was going to be suspended & for me to call 828-348-9470 if not good luck. I did call said his name was Andrew Hall in N. Carolina.. told him how I got a call when I asked him what the deal was he said someone will be calling me. I stated that no, I was given this number to call for info. He knew I was on to him he hung up. So I called him back...gave him a few of my thoughts ! These people need to be stopped.Now they can have the correct number on your caller ID ? I called the 828-348-9470 on a cell (without my number showing & it goes into the same recording you get when you call SS office (800-772-1213)

I got 2 calls from the ssa phone number 1800 772-1213 first one was last night the woman was speaking another language after i pressed 1 to speak with an agent. Today it was the same call be i thought it was a scam so i pressed 1 and when the woman started asking questions i asked for her name and id number she hung up

I recieved the same message from the same number as the previous post. 800-772-1213

Have gotten 4 calls from caller ID United States Government at 1800 772-1213. The voicemail says that my SS number will be blocked permanently and to press 1 to talk with the concerned department official. Really?!? concerned department official. Obviously a scam. The voice is a robotic recording. The message is always the same. Most concerning is the fact that the call shows as coming from the SSA telephone number. Scary...if you are a trusting sort I am afraid some people will be duped into providing personal information.

I received a call saying my "social" was being suspended because it was suspected of being used for illegal reasons. It was from 1-209-883-6295.

3 calls 9 pm 11pm 6am Knew it was a scam, . But in the middle of the night, ? Wonder what country they are in.

I received 3 calls today. The number was 12082152969 and was told my social security number was suspended. I called that number back twice and 2 different women answered . Said they were SSA agents. When I asked how they were working when Federal agencies were close because I George H.W. Bush's funeral they hung up. A sheriff deputy told me to report it here.

Received a suspended SSN call from Indian guy 410-929-7762