The “Your Social Security Number Was Suspended” Call: What Happens to Your Money If You Answer

Social Security will not suspend your SSN or demand money to fix it. If a caller threatens arrest or tells you to move money, buy gift cards, or pay with cryptocurrency, hang up and verify the issue independently. Mehaniq/Shutterstock

The caller sounds official, knows your name, and may even make the number on your caller ID look like it belongs to a government agency. Then comes the frightening news: your Social Security number has supposedly been suspended because it was connected to criminal activity, and you must act immediately to protect your money. There is one critical fact to remember before doing anything else: the Social Security Administration says it will never suspend your Social Security number. Simply answering a Social Security number suspension scam call doesn’t automatically empty your bank account, but what you say and do next can give criminals the information or money they’re actually after. Here’s how the scheme progresses and where you can stop it.

Answering the Phone Doesn’t Mean You’ve Lost Money