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A caller says that he’s from the government and your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended. He sounds very professional. So you should do exactly what he says to fix things…right?

Wrong.

The FTC has gotten reports about scammers trying to trick people out of their personal information by telling them that they need to “reactivate” their supposedly “suspended” SSNs. The scammers say the SSN was suspended because of some connection to fraud or other criminal activity. They say to call a number to clear it up – where they’ll ask you for personal information.

Thing is, Social Security numbers do not get suspended. This is just a variation of a government imposter scam that’s after your SSN, bank account number, or other personal information. In this variation of the scheme, the caller pretends to be protecting you from a scam while he’s trying to lure you into one.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

  • Never give out or confirm personal information over the phone, via email or on a website until you’ve checked out whoever is asking you for it.
  • Do not trust a name, phone number, or email address just because it seems to be connected with the government. Con artists use official-sounding names and may fake caller ID or email address information to make you trust them. Besides, the government normally contacts people by postal mail.
  • Contact government agencies directly, using telephone numbers and website addresses you know to be legitimate.

If someone has tried to steal your personal information by pretending to be from the government, report it to the FTC.

 

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Credit, Loans, and Debt
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Government Impersonators
Social Security Impersonators
;dhkwDon't use…
April 24, 2019
Foreign scammers play our tele communication system at will. They cannot disable them from fooling caller id, and they can change the fake number instantly. Does the money they do get go to fund terrorists?
juliedallas
April 25, 2019
A new 866 # today. It's 866-091-1213. At least put forth the effort to use a real number, you low life idiots. This time I picked up and their robo caller was apparently malfunctioning as all I heard was beeps. I was all ready to keep them on the phone for as long as possible. Very disappointed. I hate thieves!
Megan M
April 25, 2019
Just received a phone call from a robot voice from this number saying my ssn was being suspended due to suspicious activity (603) 331-4888‬
I am me.
April 25, 2019
I just got a call from 603.331.4949. Add that to the list. It was obviously a cell phone.
Colette777
April 25, 2019
I just got one let it go to voicemail ... it said This is Dept of SS Admin , they just suspenddd my SS number due to suspicious activity.... I called number back and say my area can’t call this number .. Number was 603-331-4949...
Renee
April 25, 2019
Just got a call from 833-454-7730...a scam on SSN
fetchbrenda
May 03, 2019
That is not true I was trying to log in to my account on line said it’s suspended I needed to contact them in person .
FTC Staff
May 03, 2019

In reply to by fetchbrenda

Social Security numbers do not get suspended. If you have an online account with Social Security, and there is a problem with the account, your should contact Social Security. Be sure you go to www.SSA.gov.

If there is a problem with your online account at www.SSA.gov, your Social Security number does not get suspended.

Taylor
April 26, 2019
Received the voice message today: “Hello this is Officer Jennifer Garcia from the fraud investigation division your Social Security number is going to be suspended due to fraud activities you have to contact the social security administration immediately at 512-200-2305 I repeat it 512-200-2305 thank you you have a good day…”
Gary
April 26, 2019
Received 4 calls in two days on the SS# scam attempt? Calls came from 1-888-810- various last four numbers. I'm certain my calls and location can be traced, why can't these originating numbers be traced and shut down? Very frustrating to continually get these calls all times of the day.
FM
April 26, 2019
Received a call today from 888-810-0374. Message was a robot voice.
prtyeyzs
April 26, 2019
I just listened to my voicemail and received the same message of suspension due to fraudulent activity. The number itself is suspicious which is why I went searching to begin with. ‭+1 (409) 066-4917‬. Thank you to everyone for sharing it really helps when you can stay informed about these scams.
sputh
April 26, 2019
I got several calls saying my SS was suspended due to suspicious activity, press 1 to speak with someone. The government does not call you they send official government mail. Also you can’t suspend a SS#. This is nonsense! They called from 1-888-810-0376 multiple times. Someone needs to stop these charlatans!
Hatesscammers
April 26, 2019
Received three of these calls today, from: +1 (888) 810-0373 +1 (888) 810-0382 +1 (888) 810-0389 The recording said my SS# was 'suspend' .. bad grammar, scammer >:(
clintwirth
April 27, 2019
what does it mean that you ssn has been put on hold
Wondered
April 28, 2019
Why can't government officials track these scammers and lock them up.. why are they waiting someone to go into the scammer trap instead of stopping the scammers
MF
April 29, 2019
I just received a call telling me my Social Security card has been suspended! ‭1 (575) 066-468‬, this is the number for the caller! Please beware!
RiRi
April 29, 2019
I got 2 automated calls this morning saying they were from the SSA Head Office and that my "SSN has been suspended and was used for illegal activities". Called from the same number both times. 214-810-1466
chelly
April 29, 2019
I just received a phone call from this ‭+1 430575066415‬ and told me that ssn was suspended.
Let older folk…
April 29, 2019
(800) 325-0778 was used to leave me a message about suspended ssn. It was automated and prompted me to press 1 to speak with someone.
Talia
April 29, 2019
just received multiple scam calls today from these numbers: 888-810-0518 888-810-0737 888-810-0743
jdej
April 29, 2019
I received a call today from 1-888-810-0739 claiming social security number was compromised.
Giovanni
April 29, 2019
Hi - I've just received a robocall from (218) 416 6798 saying my ssn was suspended and if i did not want to get arrested I should have followed their instructions . I hung up.
Anna
April 29, 2019
Today I got a simillar spam call. When I asked for more details to confirm, they abruptly cut the call
Indiana
April 30, 2019
Latest from 1888-810-0126. Have blocked but keep calling back leaving same voicemail from dif #s, saying ss number is suspended. Even tried calling it back to tell them to stop but it's a recording on their end saying " the number or code you have dialed is incorrect ". Pls dont fall for this it is a SCAM.
Cali-resident
April 30, 2019
Got scam calls in-non-human voice this morning to afternoon from the following numbers: 888-810-0927 888-810-0922 888-810-0917 888-810-0911 There was no voice message left. From an earlier scam call 484-971-4666, the following was recorded. Have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that we just suspend your social security number because we found some suspicious activity. So if you want to know about this case, just press one. Thank you. This call is from the Department of Social Security Administration. The reason you have received this phone call from our department is to inform you that we just suspend your social security number because we found some suspicious activity. So if you want to know about this case, just press one. Thank you.
Lmh122379
April 30, 2019
I get 10 or 15 robo calls a month with different numbers saying my ss# is involved in a fraud investigation and the feds are taking it to court for felony criminal charges if I don't contact them back. I first started receiving the calls in January. Yes, I was scared at first, here it is 3 months later. Where are these felony criminal charges and why haven't i received anything from the courts and why am i not in prison?
pdx
April 30, 2019
I got 4 calls on March 26, 2019 from 9:44am to 4:28pm. The first call from +1 888-674-841 at 9:44am, , Second call from +1 888-674-8411 at 12:23pm, the third call from + 800-564-1213 at 2:48pm and the fourth call from +800-564-1244 at 4:28pm.
Where is our l…
April 30, 2019
I just got this robocall for my SS#. I know about spoofed numbers, etc., but there are laws that protect these people (we CAN find them). Why doesn't our law enforcement catch these guys? And why doesn't anything happen to them when they do? Hmmmmm. Anyone press 'one' and have some fun wasting that person's time (give them give them a 10 digit SS# or throw a letter in it and keep claiming, oh my bad....that's my dad's...here's mine.......
KeeaSamone
May 01, 2019
Just received one. (866) 571-8130
Kat
May 01, 2019
I've received three bot calls in the past three days from +1 800-325-0778. Bot says my SSN has been suspended due to suspicious activity and to call a number. Are people still falling for this? I hope FTC is tracking all the phone numbers we are all posting.
your e-mail address
May 01, 2019

In reply to by Kat

Scammer UPDATE** 1(888)815-0050 I just got that same call recording people have been commenting on here about. They say my SSN was suspended. I hung up instantly. Checked out the number on reverse lookup. The caller ID listed as “Service-Comcast” I called the number back and a recording said the number has been disconnected. Please be smart and use caution when answering the phone. Our information is no longer safe when you fill out forms or surveys online. This information can be released to third parties which in turn can be unknowingly hacked or stolen by cyber criminals.
Countrygirl19
May 01, 2019
I got call from 415-324-8726. Going to suspend ssn because of activities.
Sue R
May 01, 2019
Just received 4 calls on my cell from 888-815-0031. I did not answer but they left a message each time saying they suspended my SS number.
jripper0528
May 01, 2019
This number: (575) 459-8989 just called me and a computer voice said my SSN was suspended and they filed a claim in my name...
Don't udavidse…
May 02, 2019
I just received a call and went to voicemail saying my SSN was suspended due to possible fraud activity. The number on my caller ID wasn't even a complete number... it was 940604645
P2017*
May 02, 2019
‭+1 (202) 915-4820‬ They called saying my SSN was suspended!
blaked123
May 02, 2019
‭+1 (888) 810-0927‬, ‭+1 (888) 810-0743‬, ‭+1 (888) 810-0922‬ SSN scam. It’s funny that they use a computer generated voice to trick people.
UGH!!!
May 03, 2019
I just got one today, from a (979) 604-500 is all my phone pick-up. WTH(heck)
Adrian
May 03, 2019
I've gotten THREE of these in the last day. Numbers are from 1-888-815-XXXX with a variety of ending numbers. Recording is always the same, says my SSN has been suspended (LOL) and please to press 1 to continue. Between this and the fake calls claiming to be the Chinese embassy, seems I get more scam calls than regular calls!
JF
May 03, 2019
My mom got a call today from a India accent man. He said her ss# was suspended. She called me very upset. Number was 903-705-7116.
dh
May 03, 2019
Received this message from (219) 359-6930
Eluckhoo1
May 04, 2019
877-853-4715, 833-454-7766, 564-784-8039, 289-855-5888 plus at least 4 other numbers.. I received at least 15 calls from all these numbers with the same message that my SS number has been suspended.. This is really becoming annoying. Of course I ignore it, as someone else said, I'm more concerned how they got my phone number!!
Just me 2
May 04, 2019
I have received 2 calls from fake SSA saying my SS# was suspended as well but from different # s...+1-254-632-8596 and today s # was +1-202-589-6320 ...used a different phone and after hanging up immediately I called the number only to hear is was a non working # .. LoL.. luckily I had already filed report with FTC and trans Union ...
Kathy
May 04, 2019
Same scam call from 310-469-9908. Recording falsely stated my SSN was “suspended.”
Schoolboy
May 06, 2019
So far today in the last 2 1/2 hours, I've received four phone voicemails with the same robotic message as given in some other comments on this site about my social security number being suspended. The numbers calling were 1-888-815-0502, 1-888-815-0507, 1-888-815-0512, and 1-888-815-0521. Didn't respond to any of them.
Concerned Citizen
May 06, 2019
I received 4 calls today regarding my SS being suspended all were robo calls. All calls came from 4 different numbers: 1 (888) 815-0521 1 (888) 815-0512 1 (888) 815-0507 1 (888) 815-0502
SS Scammers ar…
May 06, 2019
We couldn't all be so lucky to get our SS # canceled
Fed-Up
May 06, 2019
Automated Robo Call supposedly from "Department of Social Security Administration" stating that my "Social Security Number has been suspended because of suspicious activity!" 3 Repeated Attempts just this morning to lure me into calling them back. DO NOT ANSWER THEM OR RETURN THE CALL! IT IS A SCAM!!!
No Sucker
May 06, 2019
1) the phone numbers you're seeing on caller-id are being spiffed. Basically, the caller-id you read on your phone is completely bogus and has no meaning whatsoever. 2) These calls are coming in on a VOIP connection. This means they're over the internet and extremely hard to trace, particularly due to #1 above. Best thing to do is never give any info to inbound calls. Listen to what they say, hang up and call the Agency they claim to be representing and ask if there are any issues. Or just ignore!
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