Social Security Phone Scam PSA

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:

·         Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.

·         Contact you to demand an immediate payment.

·         Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

·         Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.

·         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.

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.