Social security scam?
I recently applied for SS online about 3 weeks ago. This morning (Saturday) a woman calls says she is from SS office in Maryland office working overtime today and needs to ask me some questions about my application. She said my name and I stopped her and said I know this is a scam she says oh no no. I hung up she immediately calls me back and says the same thing I hung up on her again. My husband and I went on our Email account and there was an email ( DoNotReply@ssa.gov)four minutes later then the phone call from stating to call office before Dec 16 2018 ask for Mrs LaTrenda Caldwell 877-593-3955 ext 56465. Does this sound like a scam? I am going to call the 1-800- 772-1213 number on Monday morning.Does this sound like a scam? Just wondered if anyone has had this happen.
maybebabyThe 800 - 772-1213 is correct , I just signed up at the office and that is the number I was called from for phone application and it is all verified , call the office directly you will be given a rep name that you deal with
Cowgirl1 I also received a call from a local number but it was my rep so I knew it was legit , I would call the 800 number and ask for mrs Caldwell then you will know if she works there or scam
sounds like scam. not one ss site comes up with that 877 number on it. however, the FTC recommends calling 800-772-1213 to verify the reason for the contact and the person’s identity prior to providing any information to the caller.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/01/scammers-impersonate-social-security-administration?page=2
Whip https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-593-3955
Probably Scam. Emails and phone numbers can be spoofed. If you click reply on the email, does it reply to her email, or something else?
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html
https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/news-releases/ssa-inspector-general-warns-public-about-phone-scheme-targeting-senior
If a person has doubts about the identity of an individual who claims to be from SSA or requests personal information, the Inspector General recommends the person contact his or her local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213 Call: 1-800-772-1213, to verify the legitimacy of the employee and/or the information request. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778Call: 1-800-325-0778.)
Individuals may report suspicious activity involving Social Security programs and operations to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at http://oig.ssa.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse or by phone at 1-800-269-0271Call: 1-800-269-0271. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call OIG’s TTY number at 1-866-501-2101Call: 1-866-501-2101.)
alpha1beta thank you for all your advice. I will call legit number I know on Monday. Your are the best.
I saw on WRNJ site (I think) that there is a Social Security scam going on right now, and that they are using the actual SS phone number on the called I.D. Don't fall for it. It's always better to be skeptical than to be sorry.
Lonesome Dove Lonesome Dove Thank you I just looked at the article. I do not have caller id but the phone number on my phone was as listed in my original post. I will call the legit number tomorrow. Thank you. You just cant be to careful.
There is a scam on medicare watch out for calls from 800 255 0000 there tryin to get info from you don't answer the number
Caged Animal I had SS office call me. I did however schedule a time (15 minute or so block) that they could call and I would be available. Worked out great for me.
thehazguy Update: It wasn't a scam. I called the number we all no 800-772-1213 at 7:00 this morning 2 separate times to be sure both operators gave me same information. I as on hold 40 min each time. I am now am confident the e-mail and the number and person to call back are legit. Always better to be safe then sorry.
UPDATE: I verified with Social Security Phone 800-772-1213 this morning and the call on Saturday Dec 1, 2018 from 410-965-1234 from a woman named La Trenda from Maryland was legitimate ,but if you look number up on scam sights the commentors say it is a scam ( IT IS NOT) it is a LEGIT number and the email saying to call 877-593-3955 ext 56465 is legit . (the main office verified that also) The woman was professional and understanding explained why they had called and the infor. they needed. I am glad i did call the 800-772-1213 first thing in the morning to verify. Because on Saturday it was quite suspicious and scary. Some SS agents do work on Saturdays. So thank you to the professional agent and to SS for their help. But it is always better to first be safe and find out for sure it is who they say they are. Thanks for all the advise when I came on this site for your advise and opinions on what to do.
maybebaby...thanks so much for the update. I think of the thousands of folks, across America, that will think it’s a scam and risk losing their benefits. Maybe it’s a Social Security scam, FROM Social Security! Nothing surprises anymore.
Guilty-Remnant Guilty-Remnant, Oh my goodness I didnt think of that ,so funny. This time IT WAS NOT a scam. I was truly scared and very upset the entire weekend until Monday morning at 7:00 when I called the 800-772-1213 number that I knew was a Social Security Office number. They verified( the Maryland 410 number and when I gave them her name from the email and the call back number from the email ) they assured me were legitimate and that the woman worked in Maryland SS office so it was okay to call her back. And to my surprise some agents work on Saturday. This time it WAS NOT A SCAM but it is always always important to check first before speaking the anyone on the phone.
I also called the nationwide SSA phone number at 800-772-1213 to find out if the 877-593-3955 number was part of a scam. It is NOT; the person I spoke to at the SSA confirmed that it was one of theirs.
ahw Google the recent Social Security scam that is going around right now. They are doing what is called "spoofing" which means the caller I.D. is showing the 800-772-1213 number, that is indeed the Social Security phone number, but it IS NOT them. When you receive a call like this, do not give them any information. As I said earlier, better to be safe than sorry.
ahw, Thank you for posting that you also had a doubt about that number 877-593-3955 and you also call the 800-772-1213 number for verification that it was a legit number. I appreciate you being diligent that is was a safe number to call. Also, Lonesome thanks for letting others know that now there is a spoofing scam going on with 800-772-1213 calling your house. I was told by the woman at the 877-593-3955 that now no one would be calling me by phone any longer and all correspondence would be done by mail. So you have just given me the heads up if that number calls not to answer anything and to call ss directly myself to see what they want.
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