Scammers ‘spoof’ Social Security’s phone number to dupe Americans

Scammers are using Social Security’s customer service number in a “spoofing” scheme to try to steal information from Americans, the agency’s acting inspector general said in a new alert Monday.

Americans have reported seeing calls come in from 1-800-772-1213, which is Social Security’s national customer service number. But the calls are fraudulent, and are being placed with technology that allows the scammers to show bogus numbers.

The inspector general said some people say they’ve been asked to divulge information — including their Social Security number. The scammers will sometimes threaten to cut off benefits if the people don’t turn over their information.

Making the problem more difficult is that legitimate Social Security employees will sometimes call and ask for personal information, the government said.

But the inspector general, said agency employees won’t threaten people, nor offer deals such as a cost-of-living increase in exchange for the information.

“I encourage everyone to remain watchful of these schemes and to alert family members and friends of their prevalence,” said acting Inspector General Gale Stallworth Stone.