FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October, 2019
CONTACT
Lydia Sharp, 312-895-7302, lydia@equipforequality.org
The Social Security Administration (SSA) warns people to look out for scammers spoofing the Social Security Fraud Hotline phone number
The Inspector General of Social Security has warned people about a caller-ID “spoofing” scam that makes phone calls look like they are coming from the Fraud Hotline number of (800) 269-0271. This is a scam. Social Security and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) employees do not make calls from the Fraud Hotline number. Do not answer these calls or give any information to the caller.
The scammers will lie or make threats to ask for personal information or money. They may ask for your Social Security Number, or they may ask for gift cards or prepaid debit cards. Callers may say they are from a “legal department,” or say that your Social Security number is involved in fraud. Scammers may also threaten to have you arrested.
SSA and OIG employees do not contact you from the Hotline for official purposes. If an SSA or OIG employee does call, the number will not be the Fraud Hotline number. SSA and OIG employees will never threaten you for information.
If you get a call from the Fraud Hotline number of (800) 269-0271, do not answer and do not give the caller any of your information. Report the call to the OIG online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report or call (800) 269-0271.
Equip for Equality protects Social Security Beneficiaries. Equip for Equality staff will always clearly identify themselves when calling a payee, a Social Security Beneficiary or other person. Equip for Equality never calls from the SSA Fraud Hotline number.
