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
October 31, 2019
love how a someone with a foreign accent can expect me to believe that "Social Security" office is calling me with there concerns about my social security number being compromised....they need to get a real job!!
October 31, 2019
Add 800-576-4872 to the list.
Recorded MSG that stated that they were the Legal Department for SSA and that I had committed fraud re: SSI benefits and that there was a warrant out for my arrest if didn;t respond within 2 hours. . And to press 1 to speak with an agent. Did so and was disconnected.
October 31, 2019
just got a call from this number , telling me what you have posted here..
October 31, 2019
I just got a call from 1-833-256-7926, I did not answer but they left a broken up email. When I returned the call to the same number it was answered by the US treasury, and I was hung up on.
October 31, 2019
I told them to come and get me and hung up. They called 5 min later after I blocked the number. VM left again threatened a warrant was issued for my arrest.
October 31, 2019
I got a 571-402-8954
October 31, 2019
We got a call saying SSI suspended. Are they kidding?
SCAM from 347 area code. Don’t fall for it and never call them back. Just hang up.
October 31, 2019
607-275-5029
Called me and told me tjay there was suspicious activity and that an arrest warrant had been issued under my name. Funny thing is i got this call like 30 times in the last 2 months.
October 31, 2019
I got a call from number 800-642-3655, it was a robocaller. Said my social security number has been used in fraudulent activity in south Texas. Said in order to speak to an agent press 1, then repeated to speak to an agent press 1 again. Then it hung up.
October 31, 2019
a social security scam call I just got here's the phone number it called from (209) 488-1683 same scam it said to call back
October 31, 2019
Just got this same call. Blocked.
October 31, 2019
I just got a call today. I called the number back, but called my sister first pretending like she was my lawyer and they hung up on me. I then called them back and asked for there SSI number and told them that they have been so activity on there number and the police will be calling them, They hung up lol. I called back for the last time and told them THEY WHERE FRAUDS. They as a heavy accent as well.
October 31, 2019
These days the pests are bombarding my number from (887) 502-9060 ...
October 31, 2019
Today I answered this call to mess with the caller. Told him my name was Fred Mercury, he laughed and said he loved my music.
Knowing he wasn’t going to get anywhere he thanked me for my time and politely hung up.
November 01, 2019
Got a call from 817 area code 8176391043 a robot message..Stating SSN will be legally blocked.
November 01, 2019
209-488-1694 scam
November 01, 2019
I have been getting a cal from 800.524.5324.
November 01, 2019
1.800.524.5324
November 01, 2019
2 days of calls from different 705 numbers.
They do not leave a message so must be scam
November 01, 2019
Next number to be added 315-675-4164
November 01, 2019
Called received on my 10-year-olds phone. Answered and the automated message said 'suspending social...blah blah", I stayed on the line and an Indian man answered when I started to talk he hung up. I called back and it was answered by an automated message regarding medical insurance. Wow! So not cool!!!
November 01, 2019
Something to add. It's good to get these numbers out so people know to ignore them. But keep in mind unless they use a real organization's phone number. You will never be able to call back after they hang up. They are computer generated numbers that they delete as they hang up on you. That's why so many different ones. They have macros that just pump these numbers out all day long. The computer is even the one making the calls. All they do is sit around and wait for you to hit 1. Most are recorded so that if they do get any info they have your voice conforming a yes or no and can okay transactions using such recordings.
November 01, 2019
Two days in a row I received this call. The calling number are:
1-800-401-2843 and 1-800-476-4125. They mentioned that if I don't call or connect to the representative they will suspend my SSN. Good luck to the caller....
November 01, 2019
multiple calls from 800-621-3990 and 800-244-1844
November 01, 2019
I just received a call from Eric Huncer from the "SS Admin" @ 469.202.6896, my batch number is 70854. Apparently my SS# has been used to open 9 CC#'s and 15 Bank accounts totaling $1.3 Million in fraudulent changes. This was all discovered when they found a stolen car on the Southern Border of Texas. Really, $1.3 Million? If my credit is worthy of those kinds of charges, I'm heading to the Lambo dealership after work. The give away was how fast they transferred my call to the top when I told them I had $400k in savings. That number may be closer to about $4. Enjoy your Friday Scam calls!
November 01, 2019
Just got a call from 800/512-0502 telling me that my social security number has been used fraudulently in Texas...
November 01, 2019
Just got one to my cell from 240-489-6207. I knew it was a scam but beware they are at it again.
November 01, 2019
I received a call from 1 (800) 921-3854. It was an automated voice that threatened to freeze my social security, which is odd because I am not yet receiving benefits from SSA. I was instructed to press one to speak to a representative, and when I did, a male voice said something I didn't understand and then they hung up. The number now shows up as out of service, Creepy!
November 01, 2019
i'm in canada, i just got a phone call from 1-800-683-8891 - saying my social security number has been suspended etc.....total scam. i hung up and will block the number
November 01, 2019
They are useing a new message now
November 01, 2019
received 4 of these "robo" calls in the last 24 hrs all from 848 prefixes
November 01, 2019
Received a call/voicemail on my cell # today from 469-625-2900 (McKinney, TX). Similar to other commenters, the message stated that the number for me to call the SSA and the reason for the call was “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 have need any information or have any question kindly call us back at 469-625-2900. Thank you.”
November 01, 2019
1(325) 576-6028 Hamlin,TX
Called back after a missed call.
They keep changing their number, and since I have my number linked to my company I can't just not answer. That being said, the person had a heavy accent and I had to fight to get him to tell me who he worked for. Answer Social Security Administration. Wanted me to confirm my name and zip code. Both of which he had since I refused to answer while getting which company he supposedly worked for.
Called back after a missed call.
November 01, 2019
Just got a call from +17136797508 out of Texas saying my social security number was compromised and that they were suspending it. There was an option to be patched through to the "social security office."
November 01, 2019
Got a call from 844-219-0383 with a recorded voice stating my SS number has been suspended and to press 1 to hear more about this case.
November 01, 2019
I and my husband called by the number 800-533-3196 that your SSN has been suspended. Due to this your benefits will be canceled. SO to connect social security administration by pressing 1. If we do not hear from you. your social will be cancel permanently.
November 01, 2019
Just received a call for this scam.
November 01, 2019
I just got a call from this number 1800 885 6554 saying that my SSN has been suspected and that i should press 1 to reactivate. I am so glad I did not press anything with these scammers . They are pure evil people, they should be ashamed of themselves.
November 06, 2019
I received a call from 1-800-143-0765 saying their from Social Security with that same message. I laughed and hung up.
November 02, 2019
I had two called from: 866-677 -7708 & 866- 697 -4897.
Lucky I didn't pick up the phone. They left the Voice Mail: "...told my S.S. Suspended ..." Please aware two number are mention it is SCAM!
November 02, 2019
I Got the scammer call from 214-604-3305. Grand Prairie, Tx.
They used really bad grammar, but said the same as all of these other things. Nor real. It was received on a WiFi app on my iPad that is not associated with any kind of business in which they could know my name.
November 04, 2019
AGAIN THESE PEOPLE CALL LEAVE MESSAGE
STUPID PEOPLE GET A REAL JOB You"ve been reported
November 04, 2019
JUST RECEIVED THE CALL ON 11/04/2019 AT 10:19 AM. THEN I BLOCKED THE PHONE NUMBERS.
November 04, 2019
I have been getting this too infact , I got one this morning should i go to the ssa to let them know please give me some feed back. Thanks in advance
November 04, 2019
SSN Scam from +1-205-319-6660
November 04, 2019
I am a Canadian and I started receiving these fraudulent social security phone calls when I traveled into the US. The area code of the phone number that me called is 902 (Nova Scotia, Canada). But in Canada we don't have social security numbers. We have social insurance numbers. Therefore I immediately knew it was fraudulent since I don't have a social security number.
November 04, 2019
There is a program scammers use to identify as ANY number caller ID. They just called from my neighbors number & left the same message.
November 04, 2019
I just got a call from 866-592-0146 for my SSN is freeze permanently ........and press 1.....
November 04, 2019
I received calls every other week. From SSA and IRS both threatening with my arrest. They stop for a while when I answered and told them the call was recorded and forwarded to the IG and FTC. But a month after they started again. Last week I got one and today another one. And guess what, I do not receive SSA benefits
November 04, 2019
Got a call with a similar automated recorded message from 1-800-377-5942. This time it was a lady's voice but the message and tone was the same. Suspicious activity on my Social Security account and all the benefits will be suspended with immediate effect. If you get a similar call, do not believe and do not respond to them.