Most Americans have received some form of this scam call – someone on the other end of the line claiming to be from a government agency. They inform you that your Social Security number has been suspended or there has been some criminal activity associated with your number. “However, you can clear that all up simply by wiring them some money or purchasing gift cards or prepaid debit cards and giving them the activation codes.”
In short, your SSN cannot be suspended and you should hang up immediately. Unfortunately, many people fall victim to this scam and there are millions of dollars lost each year to it. Here is what you need to know about it and what to be on the lookout for when your phone rings.
Can Your Social Security Number Be Suspended?
Suspended Social Security Number Scam
In short, your Social Security number cannot be suspended, blocked, frozen, etc. The basis of this scam is frightening you into believing your SSN is suspended. Without an active Social Security number, you might not receive your Social Security benefits or be able to apply for credit when needed. Since millions of Americans rely on these benefits, they become scared that they will lose their sole source of income. You can rest assured that the Social Security Administration does not suspend numbers, so your number will remain active.
Freezing your Account
To make you aware, you can freeze your number. You will still be able to receive your retirement benefits or other benefits that you might receive from the SSA, but your SSN cannot be used to open new credit accounts.
When your SSN has been stolen or compromised, you typically want to take this action. You can choose to place a temporary or permanent freeze on your number. If you need to apply for credit during the freeze, you can still do so, but it requires much more rigorous identity verification.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your Social Security number cannot be suspended, blocked, etc. However, you can freeze your SSN to avoid others opening accounts in your name.
- Any calls you receive stating your SSN has been suspended are fraudulent, and you should hang up immediately.
- Avoid sharing your personal information with someone on an unsolicited phone call. Evening sharing the last 4 digits of your SSN can be dangerous.
What To Do If You Received A Phone Call Saying Your Social Security Number Has Been Suspended
Hang Up Immediately
You should hang up immediately if you receive a call stating that your Social Security number has been suspended. These scammers want to keep you on the phone and convince you that the scam is real. Your best option is to get off the phone with them right away.
Notify the FTC
You should also notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of this call. The FTC receives thousands of similar complaints yearly, but continuing to obtain information from consumers about these types of calls helps that agency fight these scams. The FTC reported in 2019 that it received 36,000 complaints for calls of this type within two months, and that number keeps growing. The Social Security scam has officially taken over the IRS imposter scam as the most significant source of fraudulent activity phone calls.
Call the SSA Office
Maybe you have lost your Social Security card and are afraid this call is authentic. If you are ever in doubt whether you might need to take some action, you should still hang up the phone first. You can call the Social Security Administration back at their toll-free phone number at 800-772-1213. Dialing this phone number for Social Security ensures that you are talking to the SSA and not a scammer who has been able to spoof their telephone number.
Spoofing Caller ID
Today, scammers can make your caller ID appear that the SSA was calling, or it may appear as a local number within your area code. When you reach an agent, tell them about the call you received, and they can verify whether the agency needs to speak with you. Almost always, the answer will be that the call was a scam.
Must read articles related to Social Security Numbers
- Find your Social Security Number Prefix by state.
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- What is a Social Security Award Letter…how do you get a copy?
- How do you verify if someone is using your Social Security number?
- Why is your Social Security number important?
Will The Social Security Administration (SSA) Ever Call You?
Unsolicited Phone Call
Never say never, but the SSA will rarely call you. You can be confident that they will not contact you out of the blue to tell you your Social Security number has been suspended. They will not call you out of the blue about anything. The only time that they will call you is when you have initiated the conversation.
Return Phone Call
Perhaps you need to check on something with the Administration or have called with an inquiry, like a question about an SS card replacement. They might need to research and get back to you with an answer. In this case, you might receive a phone call back from them to provide the information you requested.
You should always be aware of and expect their phone call before you receive it. If you are not expecting their phone call, it is almost guaranteed that the person on the other end of the line does not represent the Social Security Administration.
TIP
There are instances where you might contact the SSA office, and they don’t immediately have the answers you need. In some cases, they may ask to call you back. If you expect a return call from the SSA, it is most likely not a scam.
Never Share Your Social Security Number With Anyone!
Requesting Personal Information
Never give anyone your Social Security number! These callers will often ask you to verify your Social Security number so that they can remove the suspension or perform some other activity. Never give them your SSN!
They might even have other information about you, such as your address, work history, or other information, that they use to convince you the call is real. Much of this information is available on the Internet, and they have probably obtained it simply to trick you.
Requesting the Last 4 Digits
Other versions of this call might only request that you verify the last four digits of your SSN. Please do not give them this information either! You should not share personal information with these callers, so you must hang up immediately upon receiving the call. If the caller gains access to even the last four of your Social Security number, they can use that information to obtain illegal access to your bank accounts or credit cards.
Within minutes, they could get access to your bank account number and drain your accounts or max out your credit limits. This is not a scam that you want to fall for! Even if you are in the middle of replacing a lost or stolen Social Security card, hang up and call back using the SSA’s known number.
The Bottom Line
This type of robocall call is attempted thousands of times each day across the U.S. Knowing the information above will help prevent you from falling for this scam.
Know that the Social Security Administration will never call you unless you initiate the conversation and expect a return phone call. It would be best to hang up immediately whenever someone asks you to verify your SSN or even the last four digits.
Report the call to the FTC fraud hotline, and monitor your credit report for possible suspicious activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
In certain situations, the Social Security office does make outbound phone calls. However, they only make these calls after you have initiated the conversation with them.
For example, maybe you called to ask about some information within your Social Security account. They might need to perform some research to get the answer, so they will opt to call you back once they have the information. You will never get a call from them out of the blue without having contacted them first.
Yes, you can place a freeze on your own Social Security number. However, no one else can freeze or suspend your number, and the SSA will never do so.
The freeze mainly applies to the credit bureaus and prevents anyone from opening new credit in your name. You will still be able to receive your Social Security Disability benefits or retirement benefits. Unlike the message the caller conveys, you cannot do anything to get your Social Security number suspended.
Maybe you’re worried, thinking, “I received a phone call saying my Social Security number has been suspended.” If you receive this type of phone call, you can ignore it. The SSA does not suspend Social Security numbers, so you can rest assured that your number is still active.
If you are genuinely concerned, call the Social Security phone number at 800-772-1213. You might even get a call or voicemail stating that an arrest warrant has been issued on your SSN, and you can ignore those calls, too. You can also set up a My Social Security account to check your information at SSA.gov.
You should report these attempted Social Security fraud calls to the Office of the Inspector General. You can do this via phone or by visiting the website. You should provide as much detail in your report as possible to help them thoroughly investigate the matter.
You can also report Social Security phishing scams using this same method. Be prepared to provide your name, address, SSN, date of birth, and as much additional information as you are comfortable providing. You’ll also need to let them know when and where the scam took place, as well as which method was used to attempt to obtain your information.
You should hang up immediately if you receive one of these phone calls. The best way to prevent giving these scammers your personal information is by getting off the phone with them. After you hang up, you can report the call to the Office of the Inspector General so that they can investigate the call.
Providing thorough details to that office will increase the likelihood that they can identify the callers and stop those calls. Whatever you do, do not remain on the line with the impostor, and do not provide any personal information. This could cause you to become the victim of identity theft. It would be best to keep an eye on your credit report to ensure no one is using your Social Security number.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
