Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Your Social Security Number (SSN) is one of your most important pieces of personal data. That’s why it’s understandably frightening when someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calls to tell you that your SSN has been or will be suspended.
These scammers may claim that the suspension is due to fraudulent or criminal activities. They can even spoof their number so that your caller ID shows the call coming from the SSA’s real number (1-800-772-1213), and they’ll ask you to verify your SSN. This is not the SSA or CMS calling.
These scammers are especially active during the Medicare Enrollment Period. They may call you pretending to have information about Medicare enrollment, when in reality they are simply trying to steal your Social Security number.
Here’s what you should know about this scam:
- These calls can be very stressful – take a minute and verify what’s happening so you don’t share personal information or act out of panic. Hang up and call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 or contact them online at https://www.ssa.gov/. If you suspect the scammer is targeting you as a Medicare enrollee, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report the activity.
- Never give any part of your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers to anyone who contacts you.
- The SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or ask you to send money via a wire transfer or a gift card.
If you receive a call like this, report it to our Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a complaint online.