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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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Shopping and Donating
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Social Security Impersonators
woodds
February 18, 2020
Caller saying from Social Security Administration and my number has been suspended due to unusual activity - phone number said to call back 800-883-7197.
DEE
February 18, 2020
THIS NUMBER 872-117-2771 CALLED ME WITH A AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING ACTING AS THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE STATING THAT MY BENEFITS WILL BE TERMINATED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY..AND THEN HANG UP
Goldensheep25
February 18, 2020
It’s funny I’m broke and they’re still trying to scam me. I was scared for a moment that it was real because I’ve never heard of this but this article helps a lot, good thing to know pass it along everyone.
Just me
February 19, 2020
I received the same call just now. the number showing is 346-226-7976.
RC14
February 19, 2020
Just received a text from 970-514-8784 which seems to be a landline associated with Onvoy LLC. The message was, HI This is Agent David Wilson, from the Department of Social Security Administration. The reason for the message was to inform you that there is a legal enforcement action filed on your SS for criminal activities. so call us at 857-488-3683 before we begin l proceedings
isisfm81
February 19, 2020
Second day in a row that I get a call saying it’s DEA and my SSN will de suspended and that I need to call back. Numbers were 878-212-6713 and 855-283-7880
haas255
February 19, 2020
I've been recieving these for th past 48hrs all day long. They have literally called me 8 times. I so done with it.
Ali 120
February 19, 2020
‭+1 (888) 808-4761‬ I got a call from this number with same message
ShawnS1991
February 19, 2020
The number that called here this morning is +18302168068, and I have been getting fed up with all of this, so I decided to call back. Some Indian guy says he is from the SSA, so I said I wanted to speak to an actual government agent, not some outsourced telemarketer. They wanted my name, I refused to give it. I only demanded they transfer me to the main office. Suddenly I get switched to some old lady who sounds confused, as if someone forwarded my call to a random house.
Gertrude
February 19, 2020
Anyone getting official looking letters purporting to be from SSA threatening levy on SSA benefits? I don't even get SSA benefits. Is this a step up from phone cams?
ecastle77
February 19, 2020
Received a call from 844-513-5923......female robotic voice.
Emnem
February 19, 2020
Got a call fro 202-931-3553 stating This is Steven from Department of Social Security Administration trying to get intouch with me because they are going to take legal action against me if I dont call
Beware4311
February 19, 2020
855-976-8241 is another social security scam number
mahea81
February 19, 2020
Here’s a scam number to add to the list: (916) 378-8515‬ Just got an automated voicemail that stated, “...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 question kindly call us back at 916-378-8515 thank you…”
Dhayati
February 21, 2020
Just got a call from the number 18667242647 The guy with a heavy accent said he is calling me from the Social Security office. He said the number is involved in crime. I got upset and hung up the phone.
Lewis
February 19, 2020
Today Feb.19 2020 I had two calls from 1-800-461-3948 It was about suspending my social insurance number when I will not speak immediately with representative
Squad
February 19, 2020
I received these calls at work and I called the number back and when the guy asked me for my name I said "you called me don't you know who you are calling" then he asked me for my social security and I told him "that I wasn' t stupid and he was wasting his time" which made him hang up. I had the number blocked after that.
Angel
February 19, 2020
I received a phone call and voicemail that had the same Robo com, the number showed UNKNOWN, # is 800-913-5048. The voicemail message said, "We are trying to reach you for the last time to verify about such activities just in case we will not hear back from you it will be considered as an intentional fraud and lawsuit, it will be file under your name in order to get more information and talk to social security office or kindly press one I repeat press one to connect your call to Social Security officer." I have received so many scam calls and spam risk phone calls. I remember I was just known to the scam calls that I was one of the victims that they took my SS# information. It was so scary because they knew my name. I didnt know then but now I do.
FABOIKO
February 19, 2020
It's disgusting how far people will go just to scam hard working people. I would imagine SS would find a better way to contact us if there were fraudulent activity. Life is stressful enough and to get these phony calls is just a hassle and adds to our stress.
Antonydiaz
February 19, 2020
Just received this call from 1-877-245-6865
Jwwsisd12
February 19, 2020
I got called by these numbers 1(800) 455 5784 and 1 (940) 217 0072 and ‭+1 (818) 638-3890‬ and ‭+1 (605) 202-6704‬ should I block them?
Jack
February 20, 2020
(650) 514-1145 called me with female computer voice.
MamaGrizz
February 20, 2020
This number called me 646-993-1038
k Kun
February 20, 2020
Got similar call from 1-646-993-1209
SamDiesel711
February 20, 2020
Just got a call from 281-201-4636 saying the same.
StaceyInIllinois
February 20, 2020
ADD phone number 480-719-3179 Just got a call saying if I don't call back I will be federally prosecuted, this is the final attempt to reach me. When I called back they said they are with the Social Security Administration and there has been identity fraud alerts on my SS#. They said that if I did not verify my SS# so we can resolve this issue, all of my assets will be frozen. I asked if I could see this alert if I logged into my Social Security account online. They said the government has forwarded these alerts to them. I said I thought you were with the federal government. I DID not give them my SS#.
Jho
February 20, 2020
My mom just got a call about fraudulent activity on her account and that they're going to take legal action soon dont know if I should be worried
Pcn
February 20, 2020
Received this call multiple times in the last several days saying my social security card was blocked due to fraudulent activity and if I did not call back I would be sued. This call was followed by an FBI agent from drug reinforcement stating I needed to call back or I was going to be arrested.
WeAreNotAmused
February 20, 2020
I just received a call. Not exactly like the recording above, but very similar. The number is 1 (833) 561-7216.
38MGTAdriver
February 20, 2020
I get them all the time on my cell. I know it's a scam for no other reason that its a corporate phone and my name isn't on in the system associated with the number, so they obviously don't know who will be on the other end. I did manage to get one of them to cuss me out when I replied that 3 squares a day and not needing to go to work sounded good, so send them deputies on down.
Deb
February 20, 2020
I got a call today Feb 20 2020 saying my Social Security number has been used in Texas the number that called me is 303 995 9915 the area code is Denver Colorado...
Mary
February 20, 2020

In reply to by Deb

Just tell them you work for the government and they will hang up on you that's how you know it's just a scam I get these calls twice a day
su
February 20, 2020
I got a call with a hangup
Username
February 20, 2020
I just received a call from a 855-859-7765 indicating that there is a legal enforcement action filed against my social security number for criminal activities... SCAM
CA resisdent
February 20, 2020
I have received a call from 646-989-9985 that claimed call from social security 2/20/2020 1:30PM PST.
RG
February 20, 2020
Also from phone number 1 (646) 993-1228
Don't use ykjo…
February 21, 2020
Just received a call from this number, the guy first said he was a SSA officer and calling regarding a crime with my social in the state of Texas. When I started to ask questions he seemed to get more upset and would not let me speak. I informed him I’ll call social security when they open, he then said he is not from social security he from the headquarters. I said this a scam and he hung up.
PhxAzguy
February 21, 2020
Received call from 1-888-857-8075 from individual. Left message with only phone number in a stern male voice. Called number and they answered phone as Social Security office. Caller had an Eastern Indian accent.
Skeptical by nature
February 21, 2020
Received call from 830-477-0206 saying there is suspicious activity on my social security account and to call them back. Voice message sounds like it came from a computer generated voice, and not from by a human. I wish these types of calls would stop.
Scott
February 21, 2020
Just got a scam call from 281-406-3031 (Houston TX). I am in St. Louis
Billy Joe Bob
February 21, 2020
Also # 205-723-4446 Scammers
Julie
February 21, 2020
I received a phone call telling me there had been fraudulent activity regarding my social security number and that its urgent to return the call 1-901-169- 8654. I knew not to continue and ended the call.
cpelkey
February 21, 2020
i recieved a call today that sounded like this and i thought it was fishy, they asked me to confirm my first and last name and i told them hold on let me get a pen to write any info down, googled the number and it pulled up a scam alert, the number that called me was 866-660-2752. i recently had an issue with a scammer who got info out of me and wanted ebay cards and it compromised my bank account. will not be falling for any of that again.
ayvlb
February 21, 2020
‪+1 202-931-4007‬ Called today. Screened call via GoogleScreen. They didn't say anything, but hung up. I call back (standard for me to check if number is real or "unfound by Verizon") An actual person answers but his words were VERY difficult to understand. I'm silent. He hangs up. I call back one more time. THIS time, he said very clearly: Thank you for calling the Social Security Administration Office. This is Agent Mark. How can I help you? I still stay silent. He calls out "Hello?" "... hello???" And then hangs up. So it's a real person, not automated at least. Probably going to report to the police.
SBinMO
February 21, 2020
Got a call from 267-822-2298, which I am sure is a masked phone number. The caller left a voicemail. She sounds like maybe she's from another country and claiming that she's with the social security administration and I must call them back immediately. Have these scammers not learned anything?
ShaD
February 21, 2020
Another number: 209-427-0373 A woman's voice, stating there is a legal enforcement for fraud on my social security account -- the rest is similar to other calls.
AJ
February 21, 2020
I have received numerous phone calls from 646-993-1208. They have called 8 times this morning .
LW
February 21, 2020
received calls from ph numbers 203-211-1090 and 203-658-2409 both stating they are from the SS Admin and I'm having legal action brought against me from Drug Enforcement. When I called the numbers back both were "not in service"
South Carolina mom
February 21, 2020
Called and left 7 messages today.
SDL
February 21, 2020
Got a call voice message from 356-727-7420. Blocked by Verizon, high risk. Only got small amount of message. But said I need to call with my social security number
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