What the Social Security Administration is warning about right now

The Social Security Administration (SSA) regularly warns the public about scams where criminals impersonate SSA employees or use fake SSA websites and documents to steal personal information or money. The most common current scams involve phone calls, text messages, or emails claiming your Social Security number has been suspended, locked, or involved in fraud — and demanding you verify information or pay a fee to restore it. Social Security does not initiate contact this way, does not suspend numbers over the phone, and does not ask for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

These scams are effective because they create panic. A caller claiming to be from Social Security, using a spoofed number that looks official, telling you your benefits are at risk — that pressure makes people act without thinking. The scammers may have some of your real information (your name, partial Social Security number, or address), which makes the call feel legitimate. They are counting on that.

Key Takeaways

  • Social Security will never call, text, or email you first about a problem with your account, and will never ask you to verify your Social Security number or pay a fee over the phone.
  • If you receive an unsolicited contact claiming to be from Social Security, hang up or delete the message and call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 to verify whether there is actually an issue with your account.
  • Scammers often spoof phone numbers to make their calls appear to come from official SSA lines, so a number that looks official does not mean the call is real.
  • Never give out your Social Security number, date of birth, bank account details, or passwords to anyone who contacts you first, regardless of how official they sound.
  • If you have already given information to a scammer, contact the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus.

How these scams typically start

Most scams begin with an unsolicited phone call. The caller ID often shows a number that looks like it belongs to Social Security — sometimes a real SSA office number that has been spoofed, or a number close enough to the real one that it passes a quick glance. The caller may claim to be an SSA representative, a fraud investigator, or someone from a related agency like the Office of Inspector General.

The message is usually one of these: your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity; your number is linked to a crime or fraud case; your benefits have been frozen pending verification; or your account will be closed unless you act immediately. The caller then asks you to confirm your Social Security number, date of birth, bank account information, or other details — or to make a payment to "unlock" your account.

Text messages and emails follow the same pattern, often with a link to a fake website that looks nearly identical to ssa.gov. The fake site may ask you to log in with your username and password, or to enter personal and financial information directly.

What Social Security actually does and does not do

Social Security initiates contact with you only when you have already started a case with them — for example, if you filed for benefits, appealed a decision, or reported a change in your circumstances. Even then, they contact you by mail, not by phone or email, unless you specifically asked them to call you about a particular case.

Social Security will never ask you to verify your Social Security number over the phone. They already have it. They will not ask for your password, PIN, or online account login information. They will not demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, iTunes card, Google Play card, or any form of cryptocurrency. They do not suspend or lock Social Security numbers as a penalty. If there is a problem with your account, Social Security sends you a letter explaining what it is and what to do next.

If you are unsure whether a contact is real, do not use the phone number or link provided in the call, text, or email. Instead, call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) during business hours, or visit ssa.gov directly in your browser — do not click a link from the suspicious message.

Red flags that signal a scam

Pressure and urgency are the biggest warning signs. Scammers create panic by saying your account will be closed, your benefits will stop, or you will face legal consequences if you do not act immediately. Real government agencies do not operate this way. They give you time to respond, and they put everything in writing.

Requests for payment are another clear signal. Social Security does not charge fees to restore benefits, unlock accounts, or resolve fraud cases. If someone claiming to represent Social Security asks you to pay anything — especially by gift card, wire transfer, or any untraceable method — it is a scam.

Requests for your Social Security number, password, or banking details over the phone or through email are also red flags. Legitimate government agencies do not ask for this information unsolicited. If you already have an open case with Social Security and they need to verify something, they will do it by mail or in person at a local office.

Spoofed phone numbers can look official but are not proof of legitimacy. Scammers can make their number appear to come from Social Security, your bank, or any other organization. The only way to verify is to hang up and call the organization directly using a number you find yourself.

What to do if you receive a suspicious contact

If you get a call, text, or email claiming to be from Social Security and you did not initiate contact with them, do not respond to any requests for information. Do not click links or download attachments. Hang up the phone or delete the message.

Then call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to ask whether there is actually an issue with your account. Have your Social Security number ready, but do not give it to anyone who calls you first. When you call Social Security, you are controlling the conversation and you know the number is real.

If you have already given information to a scammer — your Social Security number, bank account details, passwords, or other sensitive data — act quickly. Contact the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and file a report. Then place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) by calling one of them; they will notify the others. A fraud alert tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.

If money was taken from your account, contact your bank or credit card company immediately and report the fraud. Ask them to reverse the charge if possible and to monitor your account for further unauthorized activity.

Protecting yourself going forward

Do not answer calls from unknown numbers, especially if you are not expecting a call. Let them go to voicemail. Scammers often hang up if they reach voicemail because they need to speak to you directly to pressure you.

Do not give out your Social Security number, date of birth, or banking information to anyone who contacts you first, no matter how official they sound or what they claim will happen if you do not. Real organizations already have this information if they need it.

If you use online banking or have a my Social Security account, use a strong, unique password — one you do not use anywhere else. Enable two-factor authentication if the service offers it. This adds an extra layer of protection even if a scammer somehow gets your password.

Be skeptical of urgency and threats. Legitimate government agencies do not threaten you over the phone or demand immediate payment. If something feels off, it probably is.

Where to report a scam

If you have been contacted by a scammer impersonating Social Security, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also call 1-877-438-4338 (TTY 1-866-653-4261). The FTC collects these reports and shares patterns with law enforcement.

You can also report the scam directly to Social Security's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-269-0271. If you received a suspicious email, forward it to phishing@ssa.gov before deleting it.

If the scam involved a text message, report it to your mobile carrier. If it came through a social media platform or email service, report it to that platform as well. The more reports these organizations receive, the faster they can take action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can scammers actually suspend my Social Security number?

No. Social Security numbers cannot be suspended, locked, or deactivated by anyone — not by Social Security, not by scammers, and not by any government agency. Your number stays active for life. If there is a legitimate issue with your account or benefits, Social Security will send you a letter explaining it.

What if the caller had my real Social Security number or other personal information?

Scammers often buy lists of personal information from data breaches or other sources. Having some of your real information does not make them legitimate — it just makes the scam more convincing. Hang up and call Social Security directly to verify whether there is actually a problem.

Is it safe to give my Social Security number if I called Social Security myself?

Yes. When you call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, you are contacting the real agency and it is safe to provide your number to verify your identity. The key difference is that you initiated the call using a number you found yourself, not a number provided by someone who contacted you first.

What should I do if I already paid a scammer?

Contact your bank or credit card company immediately and report the fraud. Ask them to reverse the charge if possible. Then file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus by calling Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering the money or preventing further fraud.

How do I know if a website is really Social Security's?

The official Social Security website is ssa.gov. Type this address directly into your browser — do not click a link from an email or text message. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and check that the URL starts with "https://" (the "s" means it is secure). If you are unsure, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 instead of using the website.