Every year, hundreds of thousands of people get social security scam calls. These conversations often lead to individuals losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to scammers who are making false claims.
Learn what to watch for, how to report social security scam calls, and how to stop them in this guide. You’ll find all the information you need about what entities to contact and how to avoid becoming a victim of these terrible scams.
Is it a scam when social security calls?
There are very few occasions when the Social Security Administration (SSA) will contact you unless you have specifically requested a call or have ongoing business with them. There will be times that they reach out to speak with you about previous discussions or to get clarification on questions you already shared with them.
Even if you have been communicating with someone at the SSA, you should still be aware and mindful of the conversation whenever getting a call from them.
Many times a social security scam call can show up on your phone with “spoof” information showing the SSA’s official 800 number on the caller ID. It’s not a good idea to trust that these details are always correct since scammers can route their calls through fake numbers with false contact information.
In some rare cases, someone attempting a social security phone call scam could even use the real name of an SSA employee.
Ideally, you should only trust a phone call from the SSA if you have a specific point of contact you’re working with or you requested a call from them. If you have any question as to whether they’re legitimate, you should end the call and reach out to them yourself.
How to know if its a social security phone call scam
Luckily, there are plenty of red flags you can watch for to determine whether contact from the SSA is real or a social security scam call. As you watch for these signs, you can identify specific hints that could reveal whether the person on the other line is truly who they say they are or not.
Although the Social Security Administration does call people in some instances, they will never threaten you with legal actions or other forms of intimidation.
Scammers will often claim that your social security number is going to be suspended if you don’t submit a payment to them. It’s important to understand that this is a false assertion and that your social security number will never be suspended.
Other threats that scammers may claim include the possibility of arrest, a loss of benefits, or other legal actions. They will state that you must make a payment over the phone using a Visa gift card, a wire transfer, or by mailing cash. These are not forms of payment that the SSA will ever ask for on behalf of your account.
On the other hand, there may also be social security call scams where the person on the line is kind and offers you assistance with your benefits. They could be friendly and offer helpful services such as getting a new social security card, adding a family member, or getting a record of social security contributions.
While the scammer will request that you pay for any of these services, they are offerings that the SSA will typically provide you with at no additional cost.
Additional ways to tell if the call is a social security scam
- The caller asks for your social security number, which an SSA employee won’t ever do.
- When the caller requests any additional personal information.
- The caller asks you to pay with any type of gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash.
- If the caller makes any threats when you do not comply with their requests.
- They make false statements about your account or recent contact with you.
- They conceal facts or details that negatively impact your benefits eligibility.
- If the caller expects you to bribe them as a way to keep your benefits active.
- They offer to sell you a new copy of your social security card.
What to do with social security scam calls
If you have any reason to suspect the call is a social security scam, then you should immediately hang up the phone.
Do not provide them with any information such as your first or last name, social security number, home address, email address, banking info, where you work, or details about other family members. After hanging up, do not try to call back the same number.
Whether you provide the scammer with any of your personal information by mistake or not, it is always a good idea to report the call to the proper authorities.
How to report social security scam calls
The more we all work together to expose and report social security scammers, the better our chances of stopping them from taking advantage of others. There are a few places where these social security phone call scams should be reported so that each authority can take the proper action.
If you’ve received a suspicious phone call, the first step is to report it to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). You can either file a report online at
or by calling the OIG Hotline at (800) 269-0271. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call the OIG’s TTY number at (866) 501-2101.
The next step is to contact the Social Security Administration about the suspicious scam call.
The official phone number for the SSA Customer Service line is (800) 772-1213.
You’ll be able to speak with a live representative that can confirm details about your benefits and verify whether there has been any fraudulent activity.
How to stop getting social security scam calls
More than 46% of Americans have reported receiving spam phone calls
If you’re wondering how to block social security scam calls, there are a handful of actions you can take to limit these annoying points of contact.
Reaching out to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a great place to start as they are the ones who regulate phone communications throughout the United States. You can file complaints by submitting any information you have about the scammer online at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. The FCC can also be reached by calling (888) 225-5322 if you prefer to speak with a live representative.
Next, you can submit your phone number to the FCC’s National Do Not Call Registry. This can be done online at
or by calling (888) 382-1222 from the phone number you’d like to be added. While there are mixed reviews about whether this works or not, it does help to at least limit the number of social security scam calls you’ll receive.
If you continue receiving social security scam phone calls and it becomes a significant problem, you can always change your phone number. Although this should come as a last resort, it is likely the best way to start fresh and escape the constant annoyance of these calls.
What to do if you become a victim of a security scam call
According to the OIG, more than 700,000 reports of social security-related scam calls were reported in 2020, which equaled a
among those affected. Individuals who fell victim to these scams lost an average of $5,800 with a couple of people losing as much as $900,000.
If you become a victim of a social security call scam, you’ll want to immediately file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They can be reached by calling (877) 438-4338 or by submitting a report online at https://ftc.gov/idtheft. You’ll also need to monitor your credit report for new credit lines, loans, telephone accounts, or other purchases with your banking information.
As an added precaution, you can place a fraud alert on your social security number, which will require any use of your information goes through a verification process. This can be done by contacting any of the three main credit bureaus:
(888) 548-7878
(888) 397-3742
(800) 916-8800
The credit bureau you contact will notify the other two and the fraud alert will last for one year.
Protect yourself from social security scam calls
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of social security scam phone calls is by staying educated and up-to-date on the tactics scammers are using. This will make it easier for you to identify suspicious activity and prevent any loss.
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to learn more about ways to protect yourself and your business from scams and other virtual threats! We’re constantly sharing updates about potential issues and ways that scammers are trying to take advantage of individuals all over the country!
References: INSIDER,
