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
February 06, 2020
860-736-3765 Left voicemail that my SSN is being cancelled due to suspicious activity... How could anyone fall for that?! People beware and be cautious and use your common sense!
February 06, 2020
just got one from 844-213-6106
February 06, 2020
The Voice Mail I just received referred to: "Actions filed on your social security number for criminal activities". The number to call back was 903-470-7313. It was from Texas. I didn't call back, but immediately Googled it, because I figured it was a scam.
February 06, 2020
Got a call saying the same thing as above. Told them I would report them and I have their number. 866-363-9954. Your reporting system takes too long, so I will leave this here.
February 06, 2020
Received a call from 800-966-6658 stating that my Social(sic) has been compromised and has been used in Texas by person(s) other than myself and that I must contact them immediately by pressing #1 otherwise they will suspend my Social(sic) number. Obvious scam.
February 06, 2020
They called me this morning from 800-546-1492 with the same rhetoric... seems every time I block their number they come up with a new number.
February 06, 2020
getting Calls form a (844) 828-3409 number never answered but called back after 7 miss calls got a voice saying leave a message. then next time that number called a voice recording saying " Your social about to be suspended and assets please press 1 to speak to officer. Pretty much thought scam to start with cause of all the calls in past 2 days but never a voicemail was left.
February 06, 2020
Received a call from 800 250-7837
Robotic message about criminal activity and money laundering fraud.
February 06, 2020
800-950-0970 Be aware, suspect it’s a scam
February 06, 2020
Seems to be more frequent around tax return season (heads up) but I’ve been receiving countless calls from 1-800 numbers to the point I’m suspicious of all of them... here’s a few more to add to the list
+1 (800) 234-8702
+1 (800) 940-4624
+1 (800) 411-6270
+1 (800) 772-1353
February 06, 2020
Just received a call from (973)225-0579 telling me that my social security number was involved in criminal illegal actions and that I needed to call back in order to not be arrested. Obviously a scam!
February 06, 2020
We received a call with a recording similar to the one above at our place of business. The phone number listed on caller ID was 512-069-7144.
February 06, 2020
I received a phone call with an automated woman's voice telling me that my social security card was about to be suspended because of suspicious activity. I pressed 1 to be connected and spoke with someone who answered the calle with "Social Security Administration." I said, "Hello Social Security Adminstration, what is your name?" He said his name was Eric Brave. He had a Spanish accent. I told him I was very worried about what could be wrong with my social security card but I must have sounded suspicious patronizing because he hung up. The phone number on caller ID was +1 825 903 8471. I couldn't call that number back though so it's probably a Google number.
February 06, 2020
I got a call to my cell phone stating that I needed to return a call to 1-814-667-0718 to avoid legal action. When I called the number from my office phone, a person with a foreign accent answered and said "Social Security, may I help you?". I could hear a lot of other people talking in the background and it sounded like what you hear at a call center.
February 06, 2020
This number called 6x today saying they are from SSA
+2146237174719
February 06, 2020
About 15 minutes ago I got the robotic call saying it was a person from S.S. and my S.S. number was involved in south Texas illegal activity. It then asked me to push number one. I hung up instead of pushing one. I did not have my glasses on so I could not read caller ID
February 06, 2020
02/06/2020 Got a call from 303 869*8100 with same Tax Scam message.
February 06, 2020
I got this call today from 800-507-4095.
February 06, 2020
Received call from "police" 800 service 844-213-6106 saying SSN has been stopped referencing FBI and DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY and to call 844-213-6106.
February 06, 2020
My 88 year old mother who lives with me and my wife receives scam calls on her landline on a daily basis. She screens her calls through an answering machine & doesn’t answer unless it someone she knows. I feel it’s the responsibility of friends and family to remind the vulnerable ones in our circle how to handle these calls. It’s at epidemic levels right now coming from every mode of communication including scam emails text messages mail phone calls and even knocking on your door.
Just can’t let your guard down.
February 07, 2020
There is a new one I just received - an automatic response saying there has been fraudulent activity and there will be a law suit/charges will be pressed against you if you do not return the call to 830-752-9074. BE AWARE AND PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER!
February 07, 2020
Just received a scam call 1 832 653 9812 saying from SSI
February 12, 2020
I just received a call like this from 512-611-4267, when I pressed 1 to speak to someone because it scared me, he said "Social Security may I help you," and it sounded like there was dozens people in the background talking wow that was a dead giveaway for me.
February 07, 2020
Just receive a call from 888-371-4715 about my social security having been used for fraudulent activity and they will be taking legal actions. Another scam going on and apparently they are using different numbers to contact people. Don't fall for these calls.
February 07, 2020
And what is being done about it?
February 07, 2020
I just received an automated call, something about this being the last chance to contact me about social security fraud. They are going to send a federal agent after me...blah blah blah.
Total scam. The phone number was 800-341-0142
February 07, 2020
Add this to the scam list #’s
+1 (855) 417-3386
This number stated that my SSN has been flagged for fraudulent use, I immediately hung up. Call came from a robotic male voice.
February 07, 2020
14 calls so far today. Same message as on this site SC. Wednesday 11 calls same thing AZ. Monday 13 calls same thing NV. We are on the don’t call list
February 07, 2020
You can add this number to all the other numbers that these scammers are trying to use +1 (202) 926-4653
February 07, 2020
Received a voicemail on my cell stating my Social Security number had been compromised and gave phone number with instructions to press 1 after the call was answered. That was yesterday. Today, the record of the call is completely gone from my cell phone. No voicemail and no record of the missed call. Should I be concerned about that? How can they access my cell phone to remove these records.
February 07, 2020
Got this from a new number. 800.146.3361
February 07, 2020
I got a suspicious call from +1 (915) 996-9688
El Paso, TX they left a vm with a very heavy accent making threats about my Ss number. When I returned their call, a man with a very heavy Indian accent answered, asking me to verify my info I did not!
February 07, 2020
Just received a call from that number.. 409-202-6710.. I let it go to voicemail..saying that my social security number has had suspicious activity and suspended and that I need to call them.. Not!! People.. Please be Careful out there!!
February 07, 2020
I have received a bunch of calls different numbers and this is the new one +1 (800) 202-4800
February 08, 2020
For those that get the calls - HANG UP. Provide NO information to ANYONE you don’t know personally and specifically trust with the information. NO government agency will EVER call you asking for any sensitive information (your SSN, any banking info, etc.) Additionally, if ANY law enforcement agency calls saying there is a warrant for your arrest and if you don’t pay them a certain amount by giving your bank number or going and getting Green Dot cards at CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid, then you will be placed under arrest and taken to jail, call their bluff and tell them to come to your door with the warrant. Working for a law enforcement agency, and to reiterate what a prior poster already said, you will know there is a warrant for you only if and when officers show up at your door IN PERSON with said warrant for your arrest. And I assure you, we do NOT take money in lieu of jail time.
However, due to the frequency of these scams, if you DO fall for one of them, understand that all you will most likely get is a report taken so that you can submit it to your bank. Investigating these people, who are masking their numbers and using burner phones with spoofed numbers, is almost always fruitless. As someone else said, the best way to stop this is to educate people so there isn’t fear of these people calling, which is just what they want. They want you to be afraid and to stop thinking rationally and logically about what they’re asking of you. I had a call where a girl was kept on the phone and so panicked the whole time, they got 32k from her. She was a lawyer and very intelligent, but she was SCARED and they didn’t give her time to process how irrational what they were asking of her was. PLEASE DO NOT END UP LIKE THIS. This crime is 100% preventable. Tell your friends and family members. Keep yourselves and your property secure. Change passwords. Don’t share information. HANG UP THE PHONE ON ANYONE THREATENING TO BE FROM THE GOVERNMENT ASKING FOR MONEY.
Thank you and that’s all.
February 08, 2020
I received a call from 833-400-9525. Voicemail said they were from Social Security Administration. Called back and asked why I received call and immediately they hung up. Called back to see what they were going to say and a recording did my call couldn't be taken. I knew it was a scam. Just wanted to see what line they were going to use. Please be careful
February 09, 2020
Happen to me a couple of weeks ago they had my full name but asked me to verify my last 4 of s.s# then said to please hold while they grab my file who uses files anymore isn't it mostly on the computers now..I told him that it's a scam he tried his hardest to try and convince me otherwise. He said he couldn't do anything with last 4 s.s # I told him what's my security question he must know my security question he got frustrated and hung up on me.. Lol
February 10, 2020
Received a call on my work cell today. Officer Marie Gomez 855-402-7018. Said my SSN has been suspended. Luckily I know about scams but I can see how an elderly person would be nervous.
March 04, 2020
Why is our government allowing this activity? I get these calls all the time, sometimes 2-3 a day. If you follow a prompt, it's an english-speaking individual with an Indian accent. This is a direct attack on American senior citizens by a foreign entity.
February 10, 2020
I received a call from this number +12025390630 saying my SSN was going to be cancelled.
February 10, 2020
Just got one of these calls from 800-845-9507
February 10, 2020
I received a call from an India man says his name is Steven Jones. His number is 8556935134. I knew he was a fake. Hung up, reported as spam and blocked.
February 10, 2020
I got a voice message today" Our department is to inform you that there is a legal enforcement caption filed on your Social Security number for a fraudulent activities so when you get this message trying to account back as soon as possible before we _____ with the legal proceeding you can reach us on our direct number which is 786-648-4982 I repeat that's 786-648-4982 thank you and have a nice day…”
I called back he gave me the case number, his name, and his work ID, told me I am involved in money laundering. Asked me about my last 4 SSN, I think it is a fraud. hopeful this information will help you identify it is a fraud
February 10, 2020
They called me from this number:
1-800-388-3963
February 11, 2020
i get the same number 1800 number. e have caller i..d... i look the numer up on google, i shows serious scam. rather than i report it to ftc i just take it off my caller i..d..
February 11, 2020
Got call from this number left message they were from City Attorneys office in Las Vegas Nevada. Asking for my sister in Law..
SCAM..
February 11, 2020
Today is 2/11/2020 and I have gotten 3 phone calls from 1 (800) 784-9340 about my SS has been like discontinued. I went to talk to the 'Agent' they said that had but he wasn't from America. I asked them to take me off there calling list and they called back twice and when I click to tell them not to call me again they just hang up.
February 11, 2020
I got a call today from 1-916-378-8997 wanting my SS info.
February 11, 2020
Received a robocall today (rejected but went to voicemail) from 720-715-0219 about "suspicious and fraudulent activities on your socials" and to call back the same number.
February 11, 2020
Hi, feel like this just happened to me a couple of minutes ago.. I told my mom and she was kinda upset, I hope this can be stopped before it gets worse this was the number they used to call me (785)4247542