Consumer Alert
This is what a Social Security scam sounds like
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.
Topics
July 27, 2019
Phone call from 833-633-1712 says we just suspend your social security# because we found some suspicious activity but does not say who the message is for or who the message is from.
July 27, 2019
This number just called and left a robotic message 877-247-2346 that my ssn had been suspended for suspicious activity. I wouldn't have believed them even if I had answered the phone, but I don't answer calls from any of the 800, 877, or 888 numbers.
July 27, 2019
Received call from this # 8771646534 saying they were SSA and SS# was suspended.
July 27, 2019
People use common sense. Don't give anyone any information about your financial institutions or numbers. I love to play with the scammers give them fake names and numbers and in the end make them waste time. The longer I keep them on the phone the more fun I have.
If social security want to get a hold of you they will do it by mail and ask you to come to the social security office.
July 27, 2019
I got such a call just now. What’s amusing is I just got my SSN today, used it to apply for a Wells Fargo bank account, and used it to update my phone account at AT&T. So... who do you think is doing the inside job?
July 27, 2019
800-787-8313: used for lates scam call as of this message posting. Claiming “due to suspicious activity. FL-based number. May be spoofed?
July 28, 2019
Sir plz help plz tell me +61456560704 this number is,fake or not +1(407) 5640756 he demand money
July 28, 2019
I just had call from 16044172780 the lady say they work for government but she call me in Sunday ??? and call me to ask my ss and my wife info too , they ask where I and my wife work , I feel like scam so I give them fake info , they alway ask ur job how much u make ; money for a year what do u have ( car, house ).
Remember ——> anything about ur SS or info Never give them on phone , face by face in with govement officers or in office only
July 28, 2019
Someone,been calling ,from social security Administration, and leaving messages, and also saying FBI ,will be contacted, about social security fraud ,If I don't call them back.When ,I pay all my taxes, every year,and some.What ,The freak,Is wrong ,with these freaking people, Go take a hike.
July 29, 2019
Rec'd a recorded call on 8-27-2019. Male voice says: "your SSN is about to be suspended on suspicious activity. Press 1 to talk to someone to prevent this from happening thankyou."
it is startling how the there's no pause between the words happening and thankyou, its run-on. Msg repeats once. CAll came from phone number 864-808-9686, not displayed in Caller ID but in retrieved "envelope info" by me
July 29, 2019
call came from 864-808-9686 on July 25, 2019.
July 29, 2019
+1 (281) 402-6796 Got a call from this number a few times the sales back today. Total scam! stating that there is fraudulent action being taken on my social security number To call them back at this number.
August 08, 2019
I have gotten tons of these calls for past few months now. 800/944-1259, 800/937-8997, 800/129-0605, 800/922-9999,800/256-7763, 800/993-3249. Clearly robot calls. Is there any way to stop them other than blocking them or putting phone on "do not call" list?
July 29, 2019
I got a call from Vincent, AL 205-509-0286. Could barely hear the message but I was to get back to them or they would send the US Marshall's.
July 29, 2019
I just responded to a call. He said, I just have to do this work because of personal problems in the Philipines. I asked to be put on DNC list. He can't do it. WHAT???
July 29, 2019
Rec’d same call this morning from 877-573-5606.
July 29, 2019
Just got a robocall from 833-675-3028. SSN has been suspended. This phone call made my wife ill thinking this was about her mother who is in a nursing home.
July 29, 2019
New Number being used (202) 410-4818, same scam. Social security # being suspended, call to avoid disciplinary action.
July 29, 2019
I just received a call (robocall) from 811 293 0127 asking to contact them as my SSN used for criminal activity in Texas.
July 29, 2019
Just got this call and theeven number on the called ID is 899-042-1201.
July 29, 2019
Im glad I make it a habit to check an unfamiliar number expecally about my ssn they called say I was suspected for suspicious activity which is what gave it away I know for a fact I did nothing wrong the number that called me was (877)-277-9610.
July 29, 2019
I just received the same SSN scam call, but it was from 1-800-100-0000. Add this number to the list.
July 29, 2019
Got a call the number was (877)-277-9610 they said my ssn was suspected so yeah if that the case I would have required why and what suspected activity was I in I know I did nothing wrong.
July 29, 2019
I received a phone call stating that my social security number has been cancelled due to suspicious activity. (Typical) Then I tried to report the call to the social security fraud hotline. As soon as reached a real person (?) the volume crashed and I couldn't hear anything . They can't do their job like this, something needs to be fixed. I give the scammers false information, we should have a number that automatically traces the number and permantly blocks it so they can't use it again. Exhaust their resources and time by answering in a really slow drawn out voice or try my favorite; babbling nonsense and half formed words. Crazytalk em into submission. Yabba dabba dooooo.
July 29, 2019
I got a call from a 18003986173 saying that my SSN has been suspended on suspicious activity. I did NOT keep going with the call, but it is a scam phone number.
August 08, 2019
Just received a robo call saying my SSN has a complainant, and I need to call 240-292-0143 immediately.
July 29, 2019
Alabama (205) 509-0286 US Marshall is investigating fraudulent activity involving my social security number...gave me a fake case #7010
July 29, 2019
Received same call today from 866-920-8841 saying my SS card will be suspended.
July 29, 2019
I keep getting calls like this its a pain.
July 29, 2019
Today 7/29/19 morning I got a call from 1-833-738-2974 and when I could not pick up my phone, there was a voice mail left. The message was saying that "Your SSN was just suspended for some suspicious activity on it and you need to press 1 if you would like to talk to an officer." The moment I heard that voice mail, I thought that it's fake call and I goolged about it and got to this website. So, posting my comment so that it would be helpful for someone else not to fall prey for these kind of fake calls.
Thank you.
Sagar Y
July 29, 2019
Received a call today but from 866-407-4744
Ridiculous
July 29, 2019
I just got a call from 1-855-349-9716 saying that "This call is from the Dept of SSA, the reason you have received this phone call from our dept is to inform you that we just suspend your SS# because we found some suspicious activity. So if you want to know about this case press 1 thank you."
July 29, 2019
I’ve gotten 3 calls and 3 voicemails (I don’t answer numbers I don’t know) today from 3 different numbers because each time I block one they call from another one. I’ve reported all 3 numbers but idk if that will do anything. I called the last number who called me back and spoke with a man mumbling who answered by saying “Social Security office.” I asked him to stop calling me and after some long pauses I repeated again for them to stop calling me and that I had reported their phone numbers. He then said “okay” and I hung up. It’s freaking creepy and idk what to do about it other than change my phone number.
These are the numbers that have called me -
765-200-7331 (Richmond, IN)
703-337-3779 (Alexandria, VA)
415-446-9289 (Sam Rafael, CA)
July 29, 2019
I have been bombarded with these calls 15-20 times a day at all hours of the day. The phone number is different each time, including "Private Number". The calls go to voice mail. Still, if the numbers are fake, how does it help to report them? It'd take hours of my time to report them.
July 29, 2019
(765)813 5168
This number left a message threatening me. Said their from the SS office.
This is the second time but the message was a little different this time.
July 29, 2019
Received a voicemail from 1-888-638-4381. Said that my social security number had been suspended due to suspicious activity. Press 1 to confirm your social security number.
July 29, 2019
I just got the call this morning, myself. 7/29/19. Just looked it up to make sure it was a scam. Be careful out there y'all
July 29, 2019
They called me from 866-217-0084 said they were the social security office and they were suspending my ss number for fraud.
July 29, 2019
Now they called from 866-720-3596 with the same message!
July 29, 2019
3:44 PM, 7-29/2019 I just received a scam call. During the call the number showing looked like an SSA government number, yet after the call, it was registered on my cell as 800 819 4113.
July 29, 2019
just received back to back calls-
800-721-9811
800-722-2040
July 29, 2019
Now its 866-621-2790 they are calling every hour. From different numbers. I'm really tired of it! They said the exact same thing all three times. This number came up on caller I'd as corporate cafe inc.
July 29, 2019
I have recieved multiple calls in the past week telling me my number has been suspended and I need to call back NOW to avoid court action and grand jury trial.
July 29, 2019
Last week I got a call saying that someone was using my social security and I need to give them a call, I didn't. Today they leave me a message that I am going to be arrest if I do not call immediately.
July 29, 2019
Over the past three days I have received 3 phone calls saying to call the following numbers: 909-256-0623 214-897-3594. I know these are scam numbers and would like for you to know this.
July 29, 2019
I got 3 calls today from different numbers saying my SSN has been suspended and all my benefits stopped and I have to call them to stop this from proceeding. Why doesn't the government do anything to stop this? I am on donotcall.gov and registered this.
July 29, 2019
I just received a voice message from 866-299-9195 with this scam. A computer voice recorded message stating my SS number has been suspended due to suspicious activity, and press 1 "if you want to know about this case."
August 08, 2019
Mechanical voice recording claiming to be from the Federal Crimes & Investigations Department. Claiming there is a suspension notice on my social security number. Called multiple times. Same message, different telephone numbers: (425) 217-2294 & (234) 714-7673.
July 30, 2019
I received 3 voicemails yesterday with a truncated message "...in the south border of Texas so please in the order go ahead get more information to speak with an officer, press one. I repeat, press one. Thank you and have a great day." All from area code 811. 725-4004, 746-0158, 663-0432. Thanks to previous posters. I couldn't tell from this message that it was a SS scam.
July 30, 2019
I'm getting around 4 to 5 calls regarding this a day! All from different 800 numbers. I block one number and they call with a different one. This is harrassment!! Please find a way to stop these scammers.