Social Security Transfer Scam: Hang Up and Verify

If a caller says they can transfer you directly to Social Security or its Office of the Inspector General, hang up. Verify any concern by contacting Social Security through an official number or by going directly to ssa.gov.

How the transfer scam works

A caller may claim to represent a bank, police department, government office, or recognizable company. The caller then says your Social Security number or money is at risk and offers to transfer you to Social Security or an investigator.

The transfer keeps you inside the criminal’s telephone system. The next person may sound more official, but you are still speaking with the same operation.

Why the call can seem convincing

Impersonators can spoof a government telephone number, use the real name of an employee, send an image of a false credential, or know personal facts gathered elsewhere. Those details create confidence, but they do not verify the caller.

Warning signs

• Pressure to act immediately or keep the conversation secret.
• Threats of arrest, account seizure, or suspension of your Social Security number.
• Instructions to move money to protect it.
• Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, or precious metals.
• An offer to send a courier to collect valuables.

How to verify safely

End the call. Do not call back using a number supplied by the caller, text message, email, or pop-up. Type ssa.gov directly into your browser or use a telephone number obtained from an official statement or government website.

Social Security maintains current examples and reporting information on its Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams page.

If the caller accessed your computer

Disconnect the device from the internet. Do not use it to sign in to email, banking, or other sensitive accounts until it has been checked. Contact financial institutions independently if money or account information may be involved.