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
December 04, 2019
Call from 844-677-3158....
December 04, 2019
I got a call today saying...that my social security number I was about ready to be suspended by law enforcement if I did not call back this number they call me from. I'm pretty sure that's a scam. Is this true?
December 04, 2019
Add this number to the list 903-270-7478
December 04, 2019
Received a call this morning stating that they were calling from the SSA that my SS# has been involved in fraudulent activity in the south border area of Texas. The number they called from is 902-156-3375.
December 04, 2019
Received a SS scam call from 856-861-4315. If you see this number, don't answer and then block it. Same ol' line....... "blah blah blah", call back and get scammed.
December 04, 2019
12/5/19 - Received robo call on voice mail saying my social security number was being used for fraud in southern Texas by the boarder and I was supposed to press 1 to speak to an officer.
Call came from 281-193-4604 on my work phone.
December 04, 2019
Hello,
I recently got a call from the number 1(800) 127-9876 and it said that my social is temp. suspended until further notice. i was a little bit shocked and more shocked when i found out . i hope they stop calling me
December 04, 2019
User scam, they have called me two days in a row saying my s,s. Number is being deleted.
December 04, 2019
SCAM: 12/04/2019 @11:41am Just received a call from 800-722-5377 they left voicemail. When I checked my voicemail it was a recording saying about my soc. sec. and that I have activities that are fraud and they are filing a lawsuit against me!
December 04, 2019
Keep getting calls today, someone that claims to be from Social Security at the number 925-231-1732. I’m not that stupid I already knew but just reporting it.
December 04, 2019
3612640068 is another number they are using. Been getting this call from Texas for 3 weeks
December 04, 2019
I suddenly got a slew of these calls today on my cell phone, which I usually get very little spam on. Almost all from the 425 area code (Washington state).
December 04, 2019
New one just now from 281-222-4953 Houston Tx.
December 04, 2019
Received a scam robo-call from 463-216-8344, stating to contact the SS office about suspicious activity on my account.
December 04, 2019
Received a call from 800 1354356 the voicemail prompted me of an error my social security status. I was told to press 1 now to connect with a social security administration officer. I hung up and deleted the message. I never answer calls I don't recognize.
December 04, 2019
I got calls and voice mails they told me to call asap i have c
alled them over and over today just keeping them tied up turnin the tables on them this is the number they used +1 844-695-6352
December 04, 2019
I just received a call from 9156134597 saying something about criminal activity with my social!! It asked me to call the number back to get more details. I called just to see what was going on, no answer! Then I googled the number and it brought up this web page.
December 04, 2019
I got this call, today. I figured that if I could keep these folks on the phone for a while, I might save someone else a call. I got them to stay on the line for over an hour. I invented a great story. It was a free hour of entertainment. Oh, and now the fake FBI is on their way to arrest a fictitious individual at a fictitious address in San Antonio!
December 04, 2019
I received a call today from phone number: 800-029-8175 telling me (woman‘s voice) that they found criminal suspicious activity with my social security number and I should push number 1 in order to talk to a social security worker, otherwise my benefits would be stopped immediately!
I HANG UP right away.
December 04, 2019
Received a female robot recording stating that there was suspicious activity with my ss# and if I didn't respond my ss# would be blocked or suspended from being able to be used (lol) . The number was +18884316761.
December 04, 2019
18003631930 scam. Samething as before
Social security number with immediate effect due to this all your social benefits will be canceled until further clearance. In case you feel this is due to an error. You may connect with legal sellers(?) social security administration in order to connect with a social security administration officer press one now. In case we did not hear from you your social will be blocked permanently to connect with the office or now press one and your will be automatically be connected with a concern departments. We did not receive any input. Or citizen in order to speak with social security personnel regarding your social security. Press one and this automated system....
December 04, 2019
I got a ton of there I won't answer or call back they leave auto voice about SSI and being arrested by magistrate
December 05, 2019
This was on my voicemail:
"Our department is to inform you that there is a legal enforcement actions have been filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities. So when you get this message kindly call us back on our hotline number 646-904-4891. I repeat that is 646-904-4891. Don't disregard this notice and do return the call before we begin with the legal proceedings against you. Thank you. If you wish to speak with our executives. Then press one now."
December 05, 2019
just got a call from this number,1.410.769.0787 with this message, lol silly scammers " Phone call from our department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement actions filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities. So when you this message call back at the earliest possible on our number before we begin with the legal proceedings"
December 05, 2019
14107690787 with this message . Phone call from our department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement actions filed on your social security number for fraudulent activities. So when you this message call back at the earliest possible on our number before we begin with the legal proceedings that is 410-769-0787. I repeat 410-769-0787. Thank you.
December 05, 2019
Received my first Social Security scam call today on my cell phone from 470-769-8305.
December 05, 2019
This caller from 1-800-686-5175 keeps calling me several times a day. The message my VM captures is telling me to hold on while they transfer me to SS Office....make it stop!
December 05, 2019
I keep getting these calls and they tell me my SSA is being suspended, but they will give me a new number as soon as the crime is cleared. They are persistent in requesting I give them information. I was on hold with the Real SSA, but after 20 minutes I hung up. I told them I think this is a scam and they say an officer will be at your location, that I am being followed, I laugh and told them come and get me. I'm 70 years old, and still not senile lol
December 05, 2019
Received a call from (281)571-3796, Texas. I didn't answer as I didn't recognize the number. They left a recorded voice message from some department (was cut off in the beginning), stating this is to inform you that there is legal a enforcement action filed on your social security number for fraudulent activity. So when you get this message kindly call back at the earliest possible on our number before we begin with the legal proceedings. That is (281)571-3796 (repeated). Thank you and have a nice day.
December 05, 2019
866-239-7690 got a call about my SS# being suspended
December 05, 2019
i received the same call from number 1-800-094-7292. I just hung up.
December 05, 2019
Received the same category (SSN) scam call from this number, 1 343 3505 3389.
December 05, 2019
Today we got a message from 1-866-257-3620 and I believe that it was a SS scam. They are saying that there is suspicious activity with my SS #.
December 05, 2019
I got a call saying that this was the social security crime investigations unit. They called from 848-359-6169. I called back and told them this was some kind of scam and they just got all quite.
December 05, 2019
I've received a phone call from this number 361-202-0063 and the caller has identifier herself as social security officer and asking me to provide my name and social security over the phone to confirm I identity. I told her social security office do not call people out of blue moon and I refused to do so. I told her, I did not receive any letter from social security office and I do not have any business with the office. The caller hang up. I hope that everyone should be careful and do not give out any personal information to anyone that call you. Believe it or not, all governmental offices still use mail as primary source of communication. Please keep that in mind and be safe.
December 05, 2019
Just got same vm from (833) 969-6796
December 05, 2019
So I got this same type of call from phone number 220-201-0258. Told me to call that same number back, so I did he asked my nyi told him then he asked my date of birth and because he had a foreign accent I told him I first needed to know what kind of criminal activities were associated with my SS, and that I needed some kind of proof that this wasn't a scam of course he said it was valid and that he could prove it by sending an email to me, I told him that wasn't real proof and he hung up. People please don't be foolish no one that is valid is going to ask you for personal information.
December 05, 2019
I had gotten a call saying the person found suspicious fraudulent activities under my social security number. They said call back the 8452898103 and a social security deputy officer will take the call and the officer is waiting for that call. If I do not call back I will be arrested.
They did say they were from the social security office.
I just hung up
December 05, 2019
Got one from 800-043-0736. Adding it here to help web searchers.
December 05, 2019
Got one from 800-043-0736. Adding it here to help web searchers.
December 05, 2019
I received the call twice today that my ssn was being used fraudulently from phone numbers +1 (469) 675-5835 and +1 (469) 208-8170. I hung up.
December 05, 2019
Add 928-582-3839 to the list. Called the number, it's a boiler room answering Social Security Admin. 100's of voices in the background. Total Scam!
December 05, 2019
got a call from 866-665-3533 saying that my ssn will be suspended due to criminal investigation related to it
December 05, 2019
I received a call this afternoon, similar to these with the same threats due to SSN fraud or a criminal activity, and threats to arrest unless calling back the number. Thanks for your input and sharing of this scam epidemic. In Texas. Scam no. 469-329-0248
December 05, 2019
I got call from 470-782-0214 say that my social security number is suspended I have gotten these calls a lot and tired of it
December 05, 2019
I am getting calls from 7130360641 I dont know if this is right number from the ss office because i dont answer it and if I do then ask for verification of my full ss number, I dont know what to do
December 05, 2019
I got calls from 3056742121 twice and from 6107700940.
December 05, 2019
Called from some claiming to be Sandra Paxton, Fed ID 70108952, Case # 30075 Told me my SSN was found at 1245 E 16th Ave in ElPaso, also 7609 Oceans Ave ElPaso. Told her I thought it was a scam she hung up
December 05, 2019
Got three calls today from the Mount Sinai medical center, #305-674-2121
The number appears on their website but when I picked up, it's a female voice robocall that says 'there's been suspicious activity detected on your ssn, please press 1 or call us back at your earliest before we begin legal proceedings.'
December 05, 2019
I just got this call in stuart fl. I knew it was bs they dont call like that