Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be Social Security employees. These scammers try to trick people into providing personal information or money, and often threaten their victims with arrest. Don’t be fooled.
Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. Real Social Security employees also WILL NOT:
• Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended
• Contact you to demand an immediate payment
• Ask you for credit/debit card numbers
• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card or cash
• Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe
• Promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information or money
If you receive a suspicious call or are unsure of the identity of someone who claims to be from Social Security:
Hang up. Do not give money or personal information.
Report the scam to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Call your local SSA office at 800-772-1213 (toll free) Mon–Fri, 8:30am–3:30pm. Use the SSA Office Locator to find your local office at www.socialsecurity.gov
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