The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are alerting the public to a nationwide telephone impersonation scheme. Reports from across the country are being received about fraudulent phone calls from people falsely claiming to be SSA employees. The calls can even “spoof” the SSA national customer service number on
caller ID.
“We urge you to always be cautious and avoid providing sensitive information such as your social security number or bank account information to unknown people over the phone or internet,” says Nancy A. Berryhill, acting commissioner of Social Security. “If you receive a call and are not expecting one, you must be extra careful – you can always get the caller’s information, hang up, and contact the official phone number of the business or agency the caller claims to represent. Do not reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you.”
Social Security employees occasionally contact people – generally those who have ongoing business with the agency. However, SSA employees will NEVER threaten a person or promise a benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information. In those cases, do not engage the caller. If you or someone you know receive a questionable call claiming to be from the SSA or the OIG, just hang up.
Report the call to the OIG Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
