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 12, 2019
I currently received a call from an unknown number. It does not identify any region or origin of the call. The number is 1 800-781-3617. I hope this comment can help others.
December 12, 2019
I was called around 8:30 am 12/12/2019, from Toledo OH 1-567-200-0834. Name given was Kristy and so called badge number was SSA7741.
December 12, 2019
Just got about 10 calls today from these people... the number they left was 410-770-2381
December 12, 2019
My wife received a SSN scam call from (281)225-2552 today and hung up. I reported it to the FTC scam reporting.
December 12, 2019
Call rec'd from 361-204-0204...same scam as others
December 12, 2019
Just got a call from one of them saying suspension of SS Number
here is the number it came from
1-888-860-5457
Please be assured this is NOT SSA as stated above SSA will not call you with such "threats" or warnings...
Just do not understand why the government allows numbers not to be traced back once reported and have the person and owner of the number thrown in jail
December 12, 2019
I just received a phone call from 800-216-3596, automated message saying my SS was in jeopardy of being deactivated if I didn't speak to someone by pressing 1, so I did, and I got a woman, I asked for her ID # she gave me SSA028499, and then I said would she hold for one minute while I call the SS Administration on 3 way, if she didn't mind holding so that they could verify her.. She kept asking me for the number I was going to call and she was going to call it for me and bring the person in on the line. I obviously knew she was scamming, and I just kept repeating would you mind holding I am not going to give you the number I am calling I am just going to call it, she got frustrated, and Said, :"Fine You do What you want to do.. and Hung Up..LOL these people are hilarious
December 12, 2019
I just received a call from 1-281-220-9555 telling me my social security number has been found being used in the southern boarder of Texas. It told me to press #1 to speak to the officer. When I did he spoke real fast so I asked who I was speaking to again and he hung up on me!
December 12, 2019
They are also calling from a MD Number of 410-429-2001. Be on the looking out they are changing numbers
December 12, 2019
+18000060818
Their scamming.
December 12, 2019
I receive a phone call from someone who claims to be from SS administration. He said he is from federal crime and investigation. I hung up. He calls twice and his message seems like to be an automated voice system.
December 12, 2019
I got a call from the number 1-800-188-8238. Same thing, it was a reborn saying that my account has been suspended and my benefits frozen. It said to press 1 to talk to an officer. Be careful
December 12, 2019
Because I had been on the phone this morning with Gov of Canada to report what I needed to do since my husband had recently died, I thought this call from 844 244 1930, might be a follow-up call from CPP and OAS. However, because I have become suspicious of things like this I thought I would Google that number first - glad I did. This website confirmed my suspicions. Unfortunately there might be other people, vulnerable in the way that I am, as I sit with my broken heart, trying to get through all the necessary paperwork, who could get taken. Thank you for this.
December 12, 2019
8004586140 just called me and said theres amwas a federal warrant being put out for me. Started with this is a prerecorded message from social security office.
December 12, 2019
Got it 12/12/2019 from 800-592-73792
December 12, 2019
Got an automated pre-recorded call from (813) 815 3209, Zephyrhills, Florida, saying there has been a criminal record filed under my SSN, to call the above number "before we start legal proceedings". Note that number and add to the list of SSN scammers.
December 12, 2019
Scam call wanting call back to 361-204-0209 or they will issue an arrest warrant. The person they were calling for is deceased.
December 13, 2019
I was just called. Area code is from FL. Spam Alert.
call came from: (352) 623-0713
December 13, 2019
just got call saying the federal government was going to arrest me. from +1-369-254-1950@ 9:22 am. 12/13/19
December 13, 2019
I I just received a call from the number 818-651-7933 claiming to be from the Department of investigation. The caller ID was from California but I’m in Pennsylvania. He asked me if I had gotten a call from the local police and that my Social Security number had been used in some fraudulent activities and that it was under investigation. The person I spoke to gave me their name and their badge ID and a case number and they wanted me to give them my Social Security number just to confirm by details but I became skeptical and I hung up I have no idea if this is a scam or if it’s real.
December 13, 2019
Just received a phone call like this from +1 (800) 707-3129
December 13, 2019
I received this message from this number +1 (800) 028-7396. “Many activities and money laundering fraud done by you the investigation team of our department and the FBI are investigating more about this case file 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 consider as an intentional fraud and the lawsuit will be filed under your name in order to get more information and talk to the Social Security office or kindly press one repeat press one to connect your call to Social Security officer thank you
December 13, 2019
I keep getting called it comes up as 800 service the # is 888-862-1635 its a scam claiming they are from Social Security that your number will be suspended because of illegal activity on it. Hang up its a scam.
December 13, 2019
I received a call from 800-702-6635 saying my SSN is suspended. Would SSA ever suspend anyone’s SSN?
December 13, 2019
Received two calls today from Area Code 510 claiming to be from Social Security Admin. First phone call, caller ID said it came from a Wireless number. I reported the call to the Do Not Call Registry.
Then just received another SSA phone call. Caller ID identified the caller as coming from a Charles Titlow. Also reported the phone number.
Here is the number for Titlow: 510 228 9092.
December 13, 2019
got a call from 866-275-6306 social security message, i block it and give it to FTC, then after a few hours, they call again with a different phone number 737-253-3464, now message is ____againts you SSN by Federal Crime Investigation, we need to talk to you ASAP this is from SSA 737-253-3464
they keep calling you and changing their numbers
December 13, 2019
Just received a call from 800-703-1213. They left a voice mail and said if they didn’t hear back from me, they would consider it intentional fraud and a lawsuit would be filed in my name. Be aware everybody and don’t fall for these fake threats!
December 13, 2019
I got a call from 888 502 7147. It was robotic message saying they found some suspicious activity using my Social security number and if I wanted to know more about the case I had to press 1. Please be aware of these scams.
December 13, 2019
I just got a call from the #142-560-2904. He said he was following up on a computer work order and said, "are you in front of your computer?". It went back and forth and on and on until after his insistence that he was the person who helped me fix my computer I asked him what my name was and he finally hung up. You see, I work at a military hospital and we have to call a fed gov't contractor to put a work order in for our computers. I kept asking who does he work for? He kept answering something, something, Best Buy. It was hard to understand his accent, but even after I told him the gov't doesn't go thru Best Buy, he kept saying that we did.
Anyway, I think he wanted access to my work computer and I'm so glad it was obviously NOT a legitimate call !!
December 14, 2019
I received a call exactly like this yesterday and gee! lol and behold, my husband received one this morning! I mentor for an elderly computer user’s group in my town and we go over these scams at every meeting! SCAM! SCAM! SCAM ! Please do not ever answer these calls!
December 14, 2019
I received a call starting from +4470 is this a fraud?
December 14, 2019
I received call from 800-686-3512 few minutes before, where an automated recording started and connected me to an individual. This person identifies himself as a SSN office (Mr. Jack Smith), provided badge # JN14581, case id # DC7010 and Warrant # 537542 (not sure they exists). He started saying that my SSN is cancelled, and started threatening me with more details. Took my last 4 digits of SSN and stated that i visited Texas where he started some incident. He asked whether I am aware of the incident, which I denied; then he started saying that my SSN theft happened and it was misused; explaining that my bank a/c and rest all will be suspended and SSN officer (his supervisor) will come to my home in 2 hrs with documentation to issue new SSN. This totally blow-out my mind, and I stated that I asked him to be online so that I can go nearby Police headquarters and we can have joint discussion in presence of the police officer. The guy on phone started threatening me and finally call got cut. Is my personal information like SSN, Bank info and etc stolen? How can we be protected from these calls? I am little worried.
December 14, 2019
I had multiple calls from this phone number, they said my social is used and was, and there is a fraud under my ssn. when I called back they asked me for my name and social.I said I'm not giving out my SSN. They hung up.
December 15, 2019
This is the typed out version of the voicemail I received from an unknown caller.
At the information to suspend your social security number. This is final attempt to reach you to resolve this issue immediately and speak to a federal agent, press one now.
December 16, 2019
I just got a robocall about this from two different numbers: 1-800-201-9705 and 1-800-087-5619. The female robo-voice threatened to cut off my social security if I didn't connect to a social security administration officer. Jokes on them....I am not collecting social security, yet!
December 16, 2019
Just received a call from 224-253-5919 from someone (female) saying she was from the Social Security Office asking if I have made inquiries about getting my disability benefits. She did not get any information from me, as she must have realized that I caught on to her SCAM immediately and then she hung up on me. Do not even take any calls from this number!!
December 16, 2019
1-832-426-2455 is a scam caller. VM stating my SSN and driver’s license are being suspended and I need to call them back. At the end of the message: Thank you and have a blessed day. lol
December 16, 2019
5 of these calls in the last hour. All from 208 685 8007. I just blocked the call.
December 16, 2019
I just a scammer to get a real job just like the rest of normal adults. DO NOT ANSWER FROM THIS PHONE NUMBER 8322098626. He has a foreign accent and I threatened to have the phone number removed by the local phone company after contacting the authorities.
December 16, 2019
(800) 694-3454 you can add that to the fraud number list
December 16, 2019
My phone just literally blown up with 3 different numbers leaving the same voice mail. Not quite the same from clip on this website but same robot recording about SSN.
1-888-429-5562
1-888-655-2153
December 16, 2019
i've started hanging up on ANY robo calls, it's 90% spam.
December 16, 2019
Received a phone call from someone claiming to be Amanda Barnes who works with Social Security. They claim my SSA # has been detected in some fraudulent scam in East Texas.
Caller ID say the number belongs to Silva, Shelley.
Phone number is: 510 432 4669
Reported to the Do Not Call Registry as well.
December 16, 2019
833-552-2195 called me and like a typical scammer introduction regarding SSN suspension
December 17, 2019
I have received phone call from 1-800-539-6045 around a minute ago.
December 17, 2019
Automated call this morning about my SSN being suspended due to suspicious activity.
888-526-9665
December 17, 2019
Hello I received a call today from 13610 to 99504 robocall say my social security number had been compromise south of the Texas border and then I was depressed one to talk to an officer at that point I pushed one they called my work number not my home number and I was disconnected after the officer answer to whoever it was it's an invalid number
December 17, 2019
Got a call from this number 888 251-2241 5x today ,didn’t call them back...I know they are scammers.
December 17, 2019
I am receiving phone calls (robotic/automated) that are from this number 1-215-948-2332 and state that they are from the victim assistance department and threatening suspension of my SSN and I have to be present at the county courts office by Monday morning 9am! This is coming from Flourtown, PA.
December 17, 2019
Got two (832) 497-5210 that both went to voicemail, saying that they will suspend my social security number and my driver’s license number immediately. The message was in broken up text-to-speech.