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A caller says that he’s from the government and your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended. He sounds very professional. So you should do exactly what he says to fix things…right?

Wrong.

The FTC has gotten reports about scammers trying to trick people out of their personal information by telling them that they need to “reactivate” their supposedly “suspended” SSNs. The scammers say the SSN was suspended because of some connection to fraud or other criminal activity. They say to call a number to clear it up – where they’ll ask you for personal information.

Thing is, Social Security numbers do not get suspended. This is just a variation of a government imposter scam that’s after your SSN, bank account number, or other personal information. In this variation of the scheme, the caller pretends to be protecting you from a scam while he’s trying to lure you into one.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

  • Never give out or confirm personal information over the phone, via email or on a website until you’ve checked out whoever is asking you for it.
  • Do not trust a name, phone number, or email address just because it seems to be connected with the government. Con artists use official-sounding names and may fake caller ID or email address information to make you trust them. Besides, the government normally contacts people by postal mail.
  • Contact government agencies directly, using telephone numbers and website addresses you know to be legitimate.

If someone has tried to steal your personal information by pretending to be from the government, report it to the FTC.

 

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Resa
June 08, 2019

In reply to by Jfran7

Jusr received the same exact call yesterday I called them back and the dude over the phone told me that someone was using my SSN in Texas and was caught with cocaine and that there was a federal warrant for my arrest in Texas and that a SSA officer and and FBI officer will be at my place of residence to issue me another number and to clear up my name also telling me not to yell any family member or friends bcuz I don't know who's using my SSN he even gave me his name Mark Anderson & his badge number SMH I shoulda known but my credit score hasn't changed in the past months it's so low I can't even get a loan from a creditor
Georgia Peach
June 26, 2019

In reply to by Resa

I called a number back because a partial message was left! The person answered the phone Hello and I asked who this was. He said he was from SS administration and wanted the last 4 of my social! I told him I was not giving that info out and why was he calling. He said my ss# was being used for criminal activity, like drug trafficking and other criminal activities! I asked him how does ones ss# get used for drug trafficking ? I then asked him why when I called he didn’t answer the phone Social Security Administration! He said my ss# was going to be frozen and there would be 2 persons stopping by to give me a temporary SS#? I said what? Why wouldn’t you just send me to my local office if you want to change my number? He said ma’am you do what you want to do but we’re suspending your number! He was in Texas and said his name was Frank Walters, but when he answered the phone he initially said it was Adam! The phone number is 409-205-1176! Just stupid!
Whitney
July 12, 2019

In reply to by Resa

I just got a call today about that and he transferred to me and told me what to do and everything I think I just got scammed! Did he tell you to go to the store and transfer money?? Omg what do I do?
sue1927
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Nikki217

I got a robo call today stating the same thing. The number was 443-616-9450, I have blocked it as well.
B.T.
January 08, 2020

In reply to by Nikki217

Same, I just got one today, I figured it was a scam right away.
Guest1209
March 25, 2019

In reply to by Dojilllyon33n'…

I just did to from 8776111213
Vvargas
March 25, 2019

In reply to by Guest1209

I got a call three times today from a robot- not even a person. The numbers were 1-888-674-8564 and 1-888-674-5621. Same voicemail from both numbers.
Bodhi
March 26, 2019

In reply to by Vvargas

I got 4 robo-calls since yesterday from 1-800-882-9539 ... Some message about my SSN being in line for suspension! Annoying!
Abc123
March 28, 2019

In reply to by Bodhi

I got a robocall from 1888 810 0257 saying my ssn was blocked.
Old Sam
April 12, 2019

In reply to by Abc123

I received 5 robocalls yesterday from 1888-810-0040; 1888-810-0654; 1888-810-0655; 1888-810-0658; 1888-810-0659 saying my SSN was suspended.
Starships
April 03, 2019

In reply to by Bodhi

I got the robo call today that they suspended my SSN. For sure it’s a scam. The government will not call you... if anything, they’ll send the message through the mail.
guest410
July 30, 2019

In reply to by Guest1209

This number have just called my phone and left a message that my social security number was suspended. (844)-586-8012. July 30, 2019 12:42 PM EST.
@Brownie1
April 10, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I just did today ,And he sounds very professional ,even used the number ,I am a nervous wreck ,How can someone do things like that to people ,I don't get it !
Ma C
April 23, 2019

In reply to by @Brownie1

My son just received a message saying his SS# would be suspended if he didn't call back. The number that called him was 877-216-7106. He was pretty nervous. Thank goodness I did the research before he called them back!
Cmoncrief
April 30, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

They keep calling me everyday
CharAp13
August 05, 2019

In reply to by Cmoncrief

I’ve gotten 4 called every day for the past 3 days this is harassment and not sure how to stop it?
SLBT
May 03, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I have received 3 robo calls in the last 2 days about my SSN being suspended. They even left a voicemail once. Crazy! Thankfully I learned through the "you will be arrested if you don't pay X amount of $ right now" scam last year. The IRS does not contact via phone and I doubt the Social Security Administration does either!
Mfields0777
August 01, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I did as well but they come in as unknown call and they left a message. And I get unknowns all the time and no way to block and unknown it’s aggravating
mom4tu
August 05, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

Robot from 888-612-9982
Taz69
August 06, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

Looks like that are still at it. Just got the call
Whitney
September 23, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I just received a call from 1800-622-6200. Telling me my SIN number has been canceled due to suspicion of fraudulent activity and to press #1 to speak to someone regarding this issue if I didn’t want to have action taken against me. I waited on the line instead of selecting #1 then I was disconnected. Since I was curious I decided to call that number back and I got an operator saying that number was no longer in service.
Sams5279
September 27, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I received same call a half hour ago.
Itsmelasvegas
October 03, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I just did receive call today..
DrM
October 12, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

Mine was from 1 844 363 7161 but they have machines that let them change their phone numbers constantly so you can't block them as easily!
debbie
December 18, 2019

In reply to by Katz8990

I just got a robo call from a scammer...telling me my SS is wrong ............geesh ...there sure seems to be a lot of Nuts out there.
Pattie
February 22, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

Just got the same call. Just hung up and chuckled. Nice try scammers.
Kim
February 22, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

I have. Got one today. Yesterday I received a call that said my SSN had been identified being used in a fraud case and I should call them back. The person had a foreign accent. The number was an 800 number.
't use your e-…
March 23, 2019

In reply to by Kim

I just a phone call from someone about 10 minutes ago that said my SSN has been identified being used in a fraud case and I should call them back . The person had an accent, so I hung up!
Arcy94
March 26, 2019

In reply to by 't use your e-…

I received one today on my voice message. Saying mine was suspended. I will need to call S.S.Office.
Arcy94
March 26, 2019

In reply to by 't use your e-…

I received one today on my voice message. Saying mine was suspended as of now. I will need to call S.S.Office. I was so scared till I saw it's very comon scamer. Thank you all for posting
Mc
March 26, 2019

In reply to by Arcy94

Omg, me too just recieved a voicemail today that my ssn is being suspended and i should call them back, i got really nervous but i guess its a scam.
L7
April 16, 2019

In reply to by Mc

I just received a call and I didn’t pick up, surely enough, they left a voicemail stating that my social security has been suspended due to suspicious activity and if I wanted to know more about the case to press 1. I got so scared for a second and then searched it. I’m sure it’s a scammer without a doubt. The number was (800) 722-1051
3rd from the left
April 10, 2019

In reply to by Kim

For the past couple of days I have been receiving computer voice calls from 1 888 253 5629, saying that my SSN has been used in a fraud case and to call them back. Wouldn’t you think they would use at least our last name in the call if it was legitimate? Stupid conmen.I blocked the call. It is Apr. 10, 2019
Tina
February 22, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

I received two calls/messages today from 888-548-2019
Don't use your…
February 22, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

I got a call from the social security office and they said that my social security number is suspended what can I do it is this a scammer
audramc
March 21, 2019

In reply to by Don't use your…

Social security #s cannot be suspended, this is a scam.
Clem
February 23, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

I got 914-827-5118 I did not answer but they leave a message saying my social security number is suspended
Joelle
February 25, 2019

In reply to by Kirk

I’m getting this call once an hour today. From 18664043324. It goes to voicemail and states my ssn is suspended, press 1 for more info regarding your case. All robot voice.
I hope there a…
February 26, 2019

In reply to by Joelle

I got the same call and I let it go to voicemail, the originating call came from 254-616-9964 and 217-636-4421 but the voice message phone number was different. I love to curse these ppl out, stress release.
rfl1977
February 27, 2019

In reply to by I hope there a…

I have gotten this call several times this morning. I missed the first call so I called the number back and it was actually for Orkin Pest control. They told me they have been getting flooded with calls all morning - and that their number had been hacked. When I picked up the 2nd time, it was a recording and then eventually got put thru to a man with an accent. I told him he was full of crap an I was reporting him to the police. Who falls for this stuff?? Seems to happen a lot around tax season.
Krystal
February 28, 2019

In reply to by Joelle

I just woke up to the same experience I had 7 missed calls and voicemails from the same number claiming my ssn was suspended and to press 1 for more info. I had a feeling this is was fraudulent the numbers 866-404-8928
Neeraj
March 08, 2019

In reply to by Krystal

I am also getting exactly same message from phone number: +1(564) 780 2941 . Number is changing with each call on my cell but always start with +1(564) 780-****
Pql325
March 21, 2019

In reply to by Krystal

I just got one from that same 866 number. Social security numbers do not get suspended. There is no such thing. Hang up and block the number using the settings on your phone. :)
Griceli
March 07, 2019

In reply to by Joelle

My hubby just got the same robot call. Press 1 to learn more about this case. SS card suspended due to suspicious activity. Yeah like we’re really just going to call you back and give you our info just like that? Nice try. Block these scamming jerks’ number. Oh! And we also got One claiming to be the IRS.
Stephanie
March 22, 2019

In reply to by Griceli

I got the same call saying this exact thing w a 908 area code from belle mead nj wht dummies if they think I’m goin to give them my info !! lol
Ale
April 04, 2019

In reply to by Griceli

I keep getting these calls, keep blocking the number and a new number calls, same messages, sometimes women, sometimes men. So frustrating!!!