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
September 30, 2020
Received a call from 512-426-4371 and a message was left that fits the profile of a SSN scam: "...legal enforcement action executed under the Social Security Number for suspensions and fraudulent activities committed in the state of Texas and we suspended your social security number. Ignoring this will be an intentional second attempt to avoid initial appearance before a magistrate judge or a grand jury for federal criminal offense this is a final attempt to reach you..."
September 30, 2020
Got "the call" today from 833-312-0728 scam almost identical to sample call on this site ss# found suspicious call in or ss# and banking to be halted be careful out there
September 30, 2020
I received a call from 1-850-671-8510. I immediately googled the address they said my name was found on a bunch of credit cards and the scam info popped up.
September 30, 2020
received call from 469-378-8778
October 01, 2020
They just called me from this number +1 (210) 866-1827 and said “ “This is Officer John Brown here calling you from Social Security administration to inform you that your Social Security number is about to be suspended due to some legal enforcement actions was done on your social number so call us back on 210-866-1827” when I called Back I asked who this was and they asked me to verify my info- I replied with “I am uncomfortable doing that- can you please send me a letter with all the information-“ and they hung up on me DO NOT VERIFY UR INFO!!! JUST ASK FOR A LETTER AND THEYLL HANG UP EVERY SINGLE TIME
October 01, 2020
Received a voicemail. Call from 682-237-8109 requesting to return their call before they initiate legal action.
October 01, 2020
They just called me (I don't have caller ID) but the message was to call back at 509-593-5953. When you call it , it says Social Security Administration, please hold while we transfer you to our investigation officer. I hung up immediately.
October 01, 2020
Just got a call from them. (202) 773-2520.... same stuff
October 01, 2020
Here’s another number to look out for: +1 (912) 623-0104. Its doing the whole social security thing.
October 01, 2020
I received 3 calls in succession from three different numbers. They left a voicemail indicating my ssn was being suspended and I needed to kindly press 1 to speak to the officer or call back at 951-350-1739.
October 01, 2020
323 422 8301 is a Scam caller. “ your social security card is about to be suspended “ etc. the whole deal. I just received a call from one of these knuckleheads and when I reached a person inquiring as to why the SS office would be calling me with this obviously fraudulent nonsense... I was hung up on.
October 01, 2020
Just received an automated message from 785-842-7425 saying it was the Texas SS Admin...same exact threatening FAKE Message regarding SS #. What does it take to stop these idiots???
October 02, 2020
I received a voicemail with this message : “Kindly call back at the earliest possible on our number before we begin with the legal proceedings that is 254-327-0213 I repeat 254-327-0213 thank you…”
October 02, 2020
They just got my mom for 900$
October 02, 2020
I must have received at least 6 phone calls this year already! I have gotten at least 4-5 calls in the last 2-4 weeks. I learned from last year the hard way because I actually responded to the 2nd call I received in 2019 and did what I was told because I feared for my life. NEVER AGAIN!! The US Government will contact you by mail if they need to get in touch with you!!
October 02, 2020
I just received a call from 360-961-2227 and they used the fradulant activity and a arrest warrant was issued and press 1 to speak to an agent. Scamming people is what they're good at.
October 07, 2020
I've been panicking since Monday because I got the EXACT SAME CALLS!!!!! Now, I know I don't have to be. Thank you for this information! Also, the numbers I kept on receiving are 647-249-2492 and 800-220-6773.
October 07, 2020
I've received 3 calls in an hour stating that they have received legal complaint to block my my SSN and Drivers Lic. (doesn't even make sense!!) Then ask me to press 1 to be connected to an officer!
October 07, 2020
469-257-4639
That number always calls to call back and talk to a representative to get more information on my SSN getting suspended due to suspicious activity. I called back and said the voice mail system is full to receive any more voicemails for mail box#7464. This is a scam!
October 07, 2020
Just got a call from 443b 396-7179 Saying (with Indian accent) that this is SSA we need you to return our call (on my answering machine ,I was not home) suspicious activity on your card
October 07, 2020
I just received a similar call from +1 (833) 451-0520 but the voice was female and computer generated.
October 07, 2020
Received voice mail- said they are from Social Security. Their number was 443 396 3322 and possible Caribbean accent but not sure. I looked on computer and FBI issued warnings about SS fraud and listed area code 443.
October 08, 2020
+1 (843) 755-4897
Society Hill, SC Just received a call from this number. Be careful. it’s a scam!
October 07, 2020
I just received the same call everyone is describing but this one came up on (561) 536-2181, Florida. I am truly sick of all these Robo Calls and scams. Just a recording stating my SS # has been suspended due to suspicious activity, and if I wanted more information to press 1. I hung up and blocked (like the million others) and never said a word the whole time.
October 07, 2020
Got one of these calls today and was threatened with arrest for bank fraud and drug trafficking in El Paso , Texas. I was puzzled by the fact that Mr. Eric Shaw was suppose to be calling from Baltimore, Md., but it was a Roanoke, Virginia telephone number. (540) 537- 4255.
October 07, 2020
Got a call from this weird number, 911-752. A female robot voice said I was under investigation for fraudulent activities and also my family for money laundering and an arrest warrant has been issued in my name and wanted me to press "1" for more information and to stop my social security # from being frozen. I got a good laugh out of it and kept the recording to use when I need another one.
October 07, 2020
Received suspicious call this morning, stating there was illegal activity on my ss# and to call back. The phone number that called was (430) 249-0419
October 07, 2020
Just received a Social Security scam call from 1-762-888-3385. When confronted about their number is not an SS#, they hung-up. Person claimed to be officer Jacobs (Indian accent).
October 07, 2020
Call received today saying “Carefully this message is to inform you that SSA and legal enforcement agency is filing a legal warrant against your name and your Social Security number for fraudulent activities and arrest warrant has also been issued on your name for money laundering and ___ _____________ team of our department is investigating you and your family to get more information about your arrest warrant in case file from United States government you may press one for more information before we download your case into the courthouse thank you press one now…
October 08, 2020
Another SSN scam call. Great back-ground noise, sounds like a real call center. Add these two numbers to your scammers:
682-414-5598
682-414-4161
October 08, 2020
Just had a call and message from 812-947-0807
claiming to be from the Social Security Administration threatening arrest.
Occurred at 1332, 07 October 2020
October 08, 2020
Got three calls today. one from 2107669374 and another from 6149376653. the second was from a local number. The calls were answered by my voice mail. All said the same thing, that there was a law enforcement action using my social security number and that they were going to block it unless they heard from me. One was from a female voice, and the other was from a computer generated voice. I had this happen a couple of years ago too.
October 08, 2020
202 773 6693
This phone number is a SSN scam.
October 08, 2020
I have received scam call today as well 314-899-6529.
October 08, 2020
I just received on of these calls on Oct. 8, 2020. The number used this time is 931-288-0189, a Tennessee phone number.
October 08, 2020
Got a call today from a Amy Reed. She said I need to call her back this is in reference to a case that she is building against my Social Security & I need to contact her immediately. The number was different from the one they called me from This lady hacked me in 2015 on New Years Eve. A recorded message gave me a file number 1130, the number was 833-467-0091.
October 09, 2020
I have had about 5 calls in the last 3 months from 813-600-1006 saying that my SS# has been involved in a crime from Texas and that my SS# is about to be suspended and this is my last notification.
October 09, 2020
i keep getting calls where the area code and first three numbers of the phone number that is calling me, is the same as my own phone number. The one time i picked up it said it was from the social security office.
October 09, 2020
I received a call saying that my SS# was about to be suspended because it had been used fraudulently. The call came from 972-697-4617, and when I asked for the phone number and information to identify my caller, they hung up on me.
Shame on them!!!!
October 08, 2020
Thanks for your very helpful post. I got one from the telephone number 560 513 9746 just now. They said the SSA and legal enforcement are filing an arrest warrant against my name and social security number for fraud and for money laundering. They told me to press 1 to get more information before they download my case into the court house. I guess it's reassuring that they have to ask me for my social! But seems like they've revised their message since you wrote your post. The threat's a bit less blatant, right?
October 09, 2020
I’ve gotten a call 5 times in a 10 minute period so annoyed by these calls 1-425-523-7003! I’m so afraid for an elderly person getting these calls!
October 09, 2020
October 9, 2020 received a robocall from 768 346 6198 purporting to be about a problem with my Social Security account. Did not continue listening...forewarned is forearmed.
October 09, 2020
Got a call from 253-271-4638 will similar message of SSN suspense.
October 09, 2020
10-09-2020
Chicago Area
call from 773-476-6307
Your SS# has been suspended for suspicious activity...this is a scam so I just hung up and blocked the number...
October 09, 2020
I just received a call from a Salem, NH number saying my ss number has unusual activity on it. I hung up. The number was 603-898-1212. I’m assuming this was a scam.
October 09, 2020
I received a call from Hutto TX 512-846-2781 with this exact scam
October 09, 2020
Just receive call female voice a recording ref my ss
October 09, 2020
Like an earlier commenter from yesterday, I have now received the same call from 2 different numbers, both of which started with the same area code and first 3 digits as my own phone number. The caller was a recorded male voice which stated that my SSN was involved in a crime in Texas and would be suspended unless I pressed 1 to get more info. I simply hung up instead.
October 09, 2020
Got two all from scaner one # 7652842518 the other is 765 2850642
October 11, 2020
1-800-426-4867 Another scammer number to watch out for folks.