The SSA does not call to tell you your Social Security number has been 'suspended' or 'compromised.' This is one of the most common government impersonation scams in the US.
About this scam type: Calls claiming your Social Security number is suspended
ScamRadar verdict: scam · Risk score: 98/100
Pre-recorded message: This is the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity linked to drug trafficking and money laundering in Texas. To speak with an officer and avoid arrest, press 1 immediately.
The SSA does not 'suspend' Social Security numbers — they are issued for life. Any call claiming your number is suspended is a scam, full stop.
If you pressed 1 and spoke to a 'fake officer' but did not give any information, hang up and block the number. If you gave your full Social Security number, immediately place a free fraud alert at all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) — this requires only one call to any one bureau and they notify the others. Then place a free credit freeze at each bureau separately. Create or log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to check for unauthorized activity. File at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan, including a pre-filled FTC affidavit. If you also paid with gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, contact the payment provider immediately — recovery is sometimes possible if reported within hours.
The SSA contacts beneficiaries primarily by US Mail. Phone calls happen only when you have ongoing business with SSA and only at numbers you initiated. The SSA will never threaten arrest, demand payment by gift card or wire, or tell you your Social Security number has been suspended. To verify any real SSA contact, hang up and call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 or log into your account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
No. Social Security numbers are issued for life and cannot be suspended, blocked, frozen, or revoked. Any call claiming your SSN has been suspended or is being used for criminal activity is a scam.
Only if you are already in active communication about an open case (for example, an appeal you filed). The SSA does not make unsolicited calls about benefits, suspensions, or investigations. Initial contact is always by US Mail.
Place a fraud alert and credit freeze with all three bureaus (free), file at IdentityTheft.gov, monitor your my Social Security account, file taxes early to prevent fraudulent returns, and submit IRS Form 14039 to flag your tax record.
Seniors are more likely to receive Social Security benefits, more likely to be home to answer landline calls, and more likely to be unfamiliar with how the SSA actually communicates. Scammers exploit these factors at scale.
Report to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or by calling 1-800-269-0271. Also report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-24 by the ScamRadar editorial team. We update this page when scammer tactics change or when official agencies issue new guidance.
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