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Probably not. At least, not from the real SSA. But how many of you have gotten calls from someone who said they were the Social Security Administration? And maybe showed the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID? Lots, right?

We’ve seen a spike in the number of people reporting those fake SSA calls to us. Since January 2018, we’ve gotten more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Three percent of those people reported a loss – and they lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

You can hear what the scam sounds like here. The caller usually says 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 says your bank account is about to be seized – but if you go put your money on gift cards and then give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

To report this scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you're worried about identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov/ssa. And if you get one of these calls, remember:

  • Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. Your bank account is not about to be seized.
  • The real SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.
  • You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.
  • Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you. Ever.

To hear more from the honest-to-goodness SSA and the FTC about these scams, follow the Facebook Live at noon tomorrow on the SSA’s Facebook page.

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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.

lucy
March 06, 2019
I have gotten calls using my power company name & number and lots and lots of local people and local businesses using their names and phone numbers, Not always SSA but other robo calls to
bosco
March 08, 2019

In reply to by lucy

I have been receiving three times since this morning: 866-404-2478 866-404-6489
jeannieguzman3
April 09, 2019

In reply to by bosco

I received a call yesterday saying that my social security got suspended for my number 877-480-4989
bsen
June 20, 2019

In reply to by jeannieguzman3

I got a voice message from (315) 284-2982 , telling me they are trying to contact me for a while as my social security got cancelled and I need to call them back at that number. Being surprised I called above number a mail voice answered and I asked what office is it, he said it is New york social security office (Main). I hung up and I researched I don't see this number anywhere. It is definitely a scam.
Sir
July 18, 2019

In reply to by bsen

I’ve gotten 6 of the same type today. All showing from El Paso. I would love to catch these scumbag people and deal with them myself.
annoyed
August 08, 2019

In reply to by Sir

Same as the rest of posts. SS cancelled nonsense and all from Texas! at least 2 a day since Tuesday. I block but they just change up the number. Computer voice normally a man but last was a women. 281.616.6892, 512.361.7109, 800.794.8229, 830.766.5107, 830.477.8401, 830.507.6945. This is crazy
Rika
August 13, 2019

In reply to by annoyed

I have getting those calls constantly for the last few days and I always hang up...but sure annoying..
NotAVictim
November 19, 2019

In reply to by Rika

(800) 983-4694 is a robocall scam number saying they cancelled your Social Security number. I told them I would report their number to the real Social Security Administration, and the foreign accented man got all scared and started apologizing.
Concerned Citizen
January 15, 2020

In reply to by NotAVictim

Can't scare them they know we cant get their number.
Nimsimbelmyne
November 06, 2019

In reply to by annoyed

I've gotten several similar calls over the past few days, all from Maryland numbers. 443-648-9746 410-862-0821
MaurBear
September 14, 2020

In reply to by annoyed

I had a call very similar to yours from 858.335.5254. They said my SSN was suspended because of a criminal action filed against me in Texas. Of course, this is totally bogus. I hung up and reported the call on this site. You're right. They are out for a buck by scamming us.
jose
August 02, 2019

In reply to by jeannieguzman3

i recieved a call also yesterday that my ss got suspended and to press 1 to talk with rep... it was in my voicemail from 1 830 492 1469
Irritated in I…
January 24, 2020

In reply to by jose

I also got 2 calls identical to this. both an hour apart, and from separate phone numbers. They left voicemails.
ThruMyiz
September 03, 2020

In reply to by jeannieguzman3

Jeannie, Although its been well over a year since you posted this comment, I just read it today. PLEASE delete it, including your Social Security Number! I am shocked that the FTC, the blogger(s), or at least the page administrators haven't removed it. You've supplied what I assume is your valid SSN to everyone who reads the blog. Please remove this post or find someone who can. I will also report the post & try to have it removed. God Bless, Jeannie!
FTC Staff
September 03, 2020

In reply to by ThruMyiz

The number she included with her comment has 10 digits; it's probably the phone number of the people who called her. 

Imadethisjustt…
September 14, 2020

In reply to by ThruMyiz

Lol, it's a phone number. Freak out much?!?
Pismo
October 30, 2019

In reply to by bosco

I started getting these yesterday every 15 to 35 minutes from different 800 numbers. They are continuing today. How did you stop them from coming?
myke
November 07, 2019

In reply to by bosco

3 times in 1 hour 866-446-1137, social security does nothing. They keep you on hold for 2 1/2 hours. What a joke...
Medfly64
March 14, 2019

In reply to by lucy

I just received a call from 1-830-433-6211 in Seguin, Texas that told me an arrest warrant from the SSA was being issued for identity theft and to connect with a counselor immediately. What a hoax. Caveat Emptor!
Indy 78
August 02, 2019

In reply to by Medfly64

I just received a call an hour ago from 1-513-570-5875 essentially claiming the same thing
Sage
June 18, 2020

In reply to by Fox jim

I got two calls on a government issued work cell from a 682-651-8470 number in Grapevine, Tx and 936-215-6315 in Corrigan, Tx. The man had a foriegn accent, and hung up every time I called back asking for a manager or supervisor.
TiredOfThis
September 13, 2019

In reply to by Medfly64

I got this same one amd another one saying that my ssn had been breached and i was under investigation. These call need to stoo. Someone needs to stop them from bothering everyone. I pray no one actually falls for this anymore.
Gnot$
August 21, 2020

In reply to by Medfly64

I got this one as well more than once and one says my family is being investigated as well. When I called back some guy from another state called me back and claimed to know nothing about what I was calling for.
James Hanlon
May 24, 2019

In reply to by STUPIDS

Yes I would like to report that I keep getting a call from a telephone number telling me that they are the Social Security Administration asking my name which they already knew and asking for my social security number it is a total fraud the telephone number is18448473239
Shamay
May 13, 2019

In reply to by lucy

Same here. On a daily basis. Its so frustrating. Then i get calls from local numbers saying i called them and I didnt.
aintskeerd
September 27, 2019

In reply to by lucy

I have been receiving the call stating legal enforcement actions filed on my social security number for fraudulent activities. It came from 410-847-3533, which is actually a fax number for John Hopkins. The caller ID says Green Spring St
riderboy13
October 01, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

I just got a voicemail saying that same thing
Heavy
October 02, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

I just got the same thing telling me I have a warrant,can this b possible?
California resident
October 10, 2019

In reply to by Heavy

Same here, number is 877-832-0230 "before they begin legal proceedings"
North Carolina…
December 20, 2019

In reply to by California resident

Yes I received the same type of call talking about legal proceedings I was so confused and thought that my identity had been stolen. I pressed 1 to talk to an executive but the call immediately ended. When I tried to call back the phone call didn't go through. The number is 571-223-6113 from Ashburn, Va.
Shannon
January 06, 2020

In reply to by North Carolina…

I received the same call from a number ending in 6113
1SP1223
February 28, 2020

In reply to by North Carolina…

I just received a call like this, but from my local area code. At first it was an automated message (male) saying that the SSA was calling to inform me that some suspicious activity had been found regarding my SSN, to press 1 to speak to a representative. - I pressed it, and a foreign-sounding man picked up. He asked my name, and I asked him "Shouldn't the SSA know who they're calling?". He then said that he was connected to me by a switchboard, and that he did not have my file in front of him. I gave him my name just to see what he would say next. He then asked for the last 4 digits of my SSN to confirm my identity. I hung up on him & tried to call back the number that appeared on my Caller ID. It was (912) 360-2037. When I dialed it, I was immediately directed to the "Your call cannot be completed as dialed..." message. I really don't know what to think, because someone actually did steal my Social Security Card years ago, and they were arrested for it. I haven't been able to apply for a replacement SSN.
Jerry
October 15, 2019

In reply to by Heavy

I got one saying there was a wreck in Mexico and my charge cards and I.D.s were found in the wreckage, drugs were involved and if I didn't call a given number, there would be a warrant issued for my arrest. When I said ok, they waited a few days and called me back and told me there was being a warrant issued for my arrest. I said "ok, I'm guilty, issue the warrant and come get me" I never heard from them again.
Danny
December 09, 2019

In reply to by Heavy

I just got the same call. It's a scam for sure no one will call you to tell you that there's a warrant for your arrest.
Andrew_Yang_2020
November 07, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

I got this same call from 410-885-4492.
Lurdydurdy
November 11, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

This is the exact same call I got . And they left an automated voice mail saying that precise script.
Rubyblonde
December 10, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

Just got this same call 4 times today... legal enforcement actions had been filed on my social security number for fraudulent activity. I am to call immediately before they proceed with legal proceedings. Is this real ?? Should I call or be concerned?? I’m an older person and this is scary to me.
mgperez
March 18, 2020

In reply to by Rubyblonde

I just got the same call saying the same thing. Called me a couple time today already. And I wanna know if it’s scam
Jazzy
December 19, 2019

In reply to by aintskeerd

Yeah, I got this one today. Never recieved something like that, which frighted me. I'm glad that there are others who gone through the same things. Christmas is around the corner, so it would make sense that I would get this scam voicemail. How annoying.