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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.

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Social Security Impersonators
Hrbelt
September 16, 2019
Got a call from this number 800 310 8876 and they claimed my SS# is been suspended due to suspicious activities, a scam call was it, happened Sep 13, 2019. Beware and don't answer
Dog Person
September 16, 2019
Here is another number with the same scam: 800-394-2453
nana
September 16, 2019
i got a call from 1888-695-4190
not me
September 16, 2019
I've received 9 different calls from Texas in 7 hours. All 254 area codes blocked each one. Same crap about Social Security compromised I'm getting arrested blah blah... I'm on the do not call list which apparently means nothing.
manector
September 17, 2019
Got a call from area code 1234 and was told I being sued by the social security department and need to provide my social security.....i call social security department and was told it is a scam call.....to make a report trough the department of social security about the incident......
American Citizen
September 17, 2019
My Fiancie got a call on 09/16/2019 from a phone number of (325)453-0786, With a woman having a very (strong accent). saying his bank account would be seized and a car rented in his name was parked at the border of Mexico with Drugs in it, and that he would need to get a $400.00 google play card to fix the problem and a warrent was out for his arrest she also told him her name is officer megan employee # IRM 231276 a guy called before her saying his name is David Scott employee # 38017. When she heared me in the backround getting mad saying i'm on the phone with local police and F.B.I she was telling him your not at the store your at your home!!! Yelling at him, long story short she did not get money from us *Thank God* but now we'll be constantly on the fence. And keep in mind everyone if the police, irs, fbi, us marshalls, or who ever works in our government wanted us for what ever reason they would be either busting our doors down with warrents or automatically frezzing our assets. American people can be smart if we think first if you get a call hang up before doing anything and call police or someone don't call from a number they give you look it up, i've even heard of people preying on innocent lonley people and asking for $ claming to be military, and so forth. P.S with love for all people, think before you act, let's take our country back and show these punks we're not going to just bend over, we're letting people walk all over us *as if we don't got enough problems in our lives with w/e is going on*
woman
September 17, 2019
For three days I’ve been receiving phone calls from this number 800 569 9893. They say that there’s a problem with my SSN...Don’t answer in case you receive the same!
Rabana
September 17, 2019

In reply to by woman

I have been receiving anonymous calls from few days and today I have received call from 662-501-4195 stating that someone call from SSN office to assist me because my SSN will be suspended in next 24 hours and they are here to assist me. asking last four digits of SSN.
Diane
September 17, 2019
This happened to me on Saturday, Sept 14. I was not home, but the message on my answering machine was almost identical to this message. Pass the word on this scam. Don't let our elderly folks get scammed. It was so believable. I had to scratch my head and Google it because it sounded so believable. So even us youngsters can be fooled, but luckily I knew better.
loz7621
September 17, 2019
325-453-0899 another SSN Scam
TBURIE35
September 17, 2019
Just received 2 calls from ‭+8880247486‬ here is the vm transcript: “_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_ is due to an error you may connect with legal _⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_ Social Security administration in order to connect with the 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 officer now press one and you will be automatically be connected with a concern department we did not receive _⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_ citizen in order to speak with Social Security personal regarding your Social Security press one and this automated system will connect you with the officials press o
Kcat1
September 17, 2019
I get several of these calls. Two in the last day, same recording for each about my SS number being suspended, but one was an “Unkown” number and the other was 1-800-999-1936.
nash
September 17, 2019
I just got the call today from phone # 800-713-2181, stating my social security number has been suspended. They said I will no longer receive benefits etc.SSA will never call to threaten your benefits ,so hang up and report these imposters and scamers
Hs90
September 17, 2019
I have received several calls from 833-885-3335 the number left voicemails saying this. “The number for you to call the _⁠_⁠_ back at 833-885-3335 the reason you have received this phone call from _⁠_⁠_ _⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_ department is to inform you that there's a legal enforcement action filed on your Social Security number for fraudulent activity so before this matter goes to the state corporate _⁠_⁠_⁠_ _ _⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_ and before you get arrested if you need any information or have any question kindly call us back at 833-885-3935 thank you…”
GSTANG
September 17, 2019
I GOT A CALL FROM 254-234-5462 STATING THAT MY SSC NUMBER IS BEING CANCEL AN THERE IS A WARRENTY OUT FOR MY ARREST EVERYONE WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM
patypd
September 17, 2019
I just received a call from 1-800-310-7953 with the same scam.
Chris Holte
September 17, 2019
1 800 740 8383 was calling me with one of these scams just now.
CarlosC
September 17, 2019
This exact scam call today from 844-333-6660.
BF
September 17, 2019
Just received a phone call from 800-340-5245. They said that my social security has been suspend due to suspicious active.
Dee
September 17, 2019
I received a Spam Risk call from 800.256.9213 I didn't answer, I let it go to my voicemail, I listened to the voicemail, and the automated voice was asking me to press one, or my Social Security number is going to be locked if I don't respond, I have also 2 hours before that received a Fraud Risk call I did not answer from 217.910.3077, it or they did not leave a voicemail, I never answer nor respond to these calls, if there is a problem with my Social Security anything, I expect to receive written notice from the Social Security administration, to come in to the office near by, until then I don't pay attention to prank calls. Thanks everyone for listing your situations, it only help others to know that it is a scam.
Mr. S
September 17, 2019
My caller was also a recording saying my SS# has been suspended. Call was from Erie PA (814)480-0646
Living with Mom
September 17, 2019
We just got 2 robocalls stating they were Social Security. I told my mother to hang up right away. Social Security DOES NOT CALL you. They will send you letters and if important, they will send registered or certified. NEVER talk to these people or call them back. We were called by a Stockton California number and when I looked it up it said it was an "unused" number. So thinking they are using some kind of masking so you don't get their real numbers. The number was 209-153-6905.
Someone
September 17, 2019
I got a call today from 3057674291 and asked me to provide ssn and dob so i immediately disconnected as its suspicious to me. Please be aware of this caller.
patty85
September 17, 2019
I received a call from 2024439006, stating that Social Security was suspending my Social Security benefits account and an arrest warrant had been issued because of a variety of suspicious activities linked to me.
Scam report
September 17, 2019
Today I also received a call from the phone number 800-966-6369 asked me to act immediately otherwise my SSN will be suspended. The call seemed to be automatic and rushed me to press 1 to continue to fix my problem, but I hung up.
Patti
September 17, 2019
Just received the same message from the number (281) 696-2505. Houston, TX
Citizen
September 17, 2019
Received phone call 2 days in a row from California number 5104740423. Recorded message saying SS# about to be suspended due to suspicious activity. When I called back, person with heavy Indian accent answered. Noisy background. Asked for my SS#. When I asked why California when I lived in different state, she hung up. Don't reveal any personal information. It's a scam.
Gail0444
September 17, 2019
I just had someone to call me and they said they were from the social security office and that they were going to issue me a warrant if I did not respond back just like the thing said but I did respond back and I wasn't realizing that it was a scam and I gave them the last four numbers of my social security number and it's from an 800 number and it's not from the social security office
Geri
September 17, 2019
Received a call from there’s fraudulent activity with my SS number and I could get arrested Phone number is 210-460-1948.
Alex
September 17, 2019
Spamming is bad. But I think faking the caller ID is a federal crime. Where may I report it?
annoying
September 17, 2019
At work and this # shows up with the caller id "Fed Bureau of I". 256-764-3629. Did not answer
MikeC
September 17, 2019
Just got a call on my cell from (800)148-7885. Same crap as others are getting. "...your social security number has been suspended...please press 1 to connect..." I feel bad for those who believe this is really the social security administration. :(
Mr. S
September 17, 2019
My caller was also a recording saying my SS# has been suspended. Call was from Erie PA (814)480-0646
Zombie
September 17, 2019
This number just called 1 (800)569-9666 saying that they were the Social Security office. That has been suspicious activity with my account & that my benefits will be suspended if I don't respond to this call. Press 1 to speak to one of our representatives. I hung up on the robo call. My friend got a call yesterday for the exact same thing, but from a different phone number. They were given a number to call instead of the press 1. They also hung up on the robo caller.
USAzzz
September 17, 2019
I received 2 calls one left a voicemail and he other I answered the voice mail call and from 800-118-6626 the next one came from ‭+1 (254) 693-2681‬ Gordon TX and I answered and it was a robo call with same message about a crime and my SSN had been suspended
sickofscammers…
September 17, 2019
I got two of these phone calls just today. Both times the caller ID showed the actual social security number as listed in this article. I asked to speak to a representative and was not nice to the lady. I accused her of being a scammer and she really sounded upset with me- defending herself saying that she actually was with the social security department. She had a very heavy accent - perhaps from somewhere in India?- and you could hear lots of people talking in the background. I was about to launch into the whole "how do you sleep at night knowing you are stealing money from innocent people who need it" speech, but sadly, she hung up on me. Oh well. I'm sure they will call again and I'll get my chance.
diannesab
September 17, 2019
Just received a second robo call, from 1-800-121-8115 and this time got the number as several months ago, I had just updated the scam list, when I got this very call, I waited and when someone did came on the line, he told me he was from the FBI, and so on, I explained that I knew he was a scam artist, and he tried to convince me otherwise. I told him that I keep up with what is going on, and I did not appreciate his crimminal activity, and was going to report him to the correct FBI agents, and he hung up. Thank you for this sight. I go on it monthly to educate myself what is out there.
-missy marge
September 17, 2019
Got a call from 1-844-691-1056 Partial VM stating something about SSA and a warrant.
Scammer alert
September 17, 2019
Just got a call from a suspicious number 1-800-796-8738. I didn’t pick up but they left me an automated number stating that my social security number is suspended. I am not even going to fall for this scam. Using unknown numbers to call.
rmccurty
September 17, 2019
I received a call today from this number ‭+800 7599159‬, stating that warrants had been issued for my arrest due to fraudulent activity involving my SS#.
Brenda patterson
September 17, 2019
They keep calling me from this number
all82
September 17, 2019
Received a call not too long ago they called three times in a row. Did not answer. Left a voice message which was cut off saying to avoid legal consequences. Called back and the number is for a lipozene trial. Add this number to the growing list ‭+1 (800) 571-6695‬
Bruss
September 18, 2019
Just received this voicemail from Houston Tx number...713-636-5749. Please shut it down.
Social securit…
September 18, 2019
Just received a call from a different number today 1-800-203-4377. Never do I answer, so they left me a message again about my social security being suspended again. Yesterday they called with a different number. Please be careful everyone.
Nuctrainer55
September 19, 2019
Calling from 205-506-3840. Claimed they were with Social Security Administration but couldn’t give me a physical address of their office.
Anonymous
September 18, 2019
Got a call from 1-800-726-9813 and 1-800-060-7105. Call said social security no will be permanently blocked if I don't press 1. Just hung up after the call and blocked the numbers. This site helped to confirm it was a scam.
Maggiefig
September 18, 2019

In reply to by Anonymous

I got the same call today the number that called me was (800)259-8254
S.H. Massachusetts
September 18, 2019
Last couple of days I've been getting these calls from numbers such as: 209-141-4645 or similar. They even left a message yesterday. Same SS# scam. I block the number but they change the number slightly and call again. S.H. from Massachusetts
fed up 73
September 18, 2019
I just got another call from social security scammers. I get them at least once a week saying my social security number is going to be suspended because of suspicious activity. The number they called from is 800-547-8894. I doubt this is their real number because it is a recording telling you to press 1 for assistance.
Spooky8433
September 18, 2019
Received call from 832-739-9191 claiming suspicious activity with my social sec # in San Antonio, TX. Wanted my date of birth I refused to give and could not answer my basic questions.
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