Reporting U.S. Social Security Imposter Phone Scam Calls

Introduction

Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, and Gail S. Ennis, the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, announce the launch of a dedicated online form to receive reports from the public of Social Security-related scams.

Main Digest

These scams - in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems - skyrocketed over the past year to become the number 1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration.

To combat these scams, Social Security and the OIG will use the new online form to capture data that will be analyzed for trends and commonalities. The OIG will use the data to identify investigative leads, which could help identify criminal entities or individuals participating in or facilitating the scams. Ultimately, these efforts are expected to disrupt the scammers, help reduce this type of fraud, and reduce the number of victims.

"We are taking action to raise awareness and prevent scammers from harming Americans," Commissioner Saul said. "I am deeply troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving some of the most vulnerable members of our society."

Commissioner Saul and Inspector General Ennis encourage the public to use the new online form to report Social Security phone scams including robocalls and live callers, as well as email, text, and in-person scams. The form allows people to create a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN), so if OIG contacts a person about their report, they will know the call is legitimate.

"Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers," said Inspector General Ennis. "Tell your friends and family about them and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls."

Social Security employees do occasionally contact people, generally those who have ongoing business with the agency, by telephone for business purposes. However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person, or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up.

Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency.

Social Security Will Not:

• Contact you to demand an immediate payment.
• Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.
• 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.
• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.

If there is a problem with a person's Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. People should never provide information or payment over the phone or Internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it.

The Social Security OIG will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste, and abuse in Social Security's programs and operations.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Social Security Administration, and published on 2019/11/19 (Edit Update: 2023/10/09), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, U.S. Social Security Administration can be contacted at ssa.gov. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Related Publications▶ Share This Page

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): U.S. Social Security Administration. (2019, November 19 - Last revised: 2023, October 9). Reporting U.S. Social Security Imposter Phone Scam Calls. Disabled World. Retrieved September 17, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/social-security/cheats/scammers.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/social-security/cheats/scammers.php">Reporting U.S. Social Security Imposter Phone Scam Calls</a>: United States Social Security Administration and its inspector general announce new online reporting form for imposter scam calls.

Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.