Fake Medicare and Social Security Audit Calls Are Trying to Steal Your Information
Calls from 202-221-7923 and 1-404-461-9352 are being reported in connection with a scam that uses the names of Social Security and Medicare to make older Americans hand over private information. The caller may sound official, mention an “audit” or account problem, and tell you that you must verify your information right away.
The goal is not really an audit. The goal is to make you believe that something important is wrong with your benefits so you will give the caller information that can later be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or medical fraud.
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These calls can sound convincing because the scammer understands that Social Security and Medicare are important parts of your everyday life. A caller who says there is a problem with your benefits can immediately get your attention.
But you do not have to solve a government problem during a surprise phone call.
The Washington, D.C. Area Code Is Part of the Trick
The number 202-221-7923 uses a Washington, D.C. area code. That can make the call appear to come from a federal government office.
A scammer may introduce himself as a Social Security Administration employee, an investigator, or another government official. He may even provide a fake employee number or use the name of a real government worker.
The caller may say something like:
“We are conducting an audit of your Social Security record. Your Social Security number has been connected to suspicious activity. You need to verify your information today.”
That statement is designed to make you worry before you have time to think.
The caller may then ask for your Social Security number, date of birth, address, bank information, or other personal details. Sometimes the scammer already knows your name, address, or part of your Social Security number. That does not prove the call is legitimate.
The Social Security Administration warns that scammers may use real employee names, fake documents, and spoofed government phone numbers. Caller ID cannot be trusted as proof that a call really came from Social Security.
A Real Social Security Problem Does Not Work This Way
The Social Security Administration says that if there is a problem with your Social Security number or record, it will typically send you a letter. SSA employees may call people in certain legitimate situations, such as when someone recently applied for benefits, is already receiving payments and needs to update a record, or specifically requested a phone call.
There is an important difference between a legitimate agency contact and an unexpected call demanding information.
The real Social Security Administration will not threaten to arrest you because of your Social Security number. It will not tell you that your Social Security number is being suspended. It will not demand immediate payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, cash, or another unusual method.
So if someone calls and says your Social Security number is about to be blocked unless you cooperate, stop there.
You do not need to stay on the phone.
You do not need to prove your identity to the caller.
You do not need to transfer money to “protect” your account.
Simply end the call.
The Medicare Call Uses a Different Story
The second reported number, 1-404-461-9352, is associated with a different version of the same basic impersonation scheme.
Instead of focusing on a Social Security investigation, the caller may say he is working with Medicare. He may claim that your Medicare benefits are being reviewed, that a new Medicare card is being issued, or that you qualify for an upgraded card or additional benefit.
The caller may then ask you to “verify” your Medicare number.
For example, you might hear:
“We are updating Medicare records and need to confirm your Medicare number so your new card can be activated.”
That may sound harmless. It is not.
Your Medicare number is private information. Someone who gets it may use it to commit medical identity theft or submit false claims.
The Federal Trade Commission warns about Medicare impersonators who ask for Medicare numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers while claiming to arrange a new Medicare card or benefit.
Medicare itself says you should not share your Medicare number or other personal information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Medicare also says it will never call you uninvited and ask for personal or private information.
There Is No Need to “Verify” Your Card for a Stranger
One common trick is to make the request sound like routine paperwork.
The caller may say your card is outdated.
He may say Medicare is changing its records.
He may say a new plastic card is being mailed.
He may claim that a health screening benefit is about to expire.
The exact story can change, but the request stays similar. The caller wants your Medicare number and other information.
Medicare cards are not something you need to activate by giving your number to an unexpected caller. Medicare explains that replacement cards can be ordered through official Medicare channels, including 1-800-MEDICARE.
If you really have a question about your card or benefits, make the call yourself.
Do not call back the number that appeared on your caller ID.
Do not use a number the caller gives you.
Use a trusted number from your Medicare card, an official Medicare document, or the official Medicare website.
That small difference gives you control of the conversation.
Why Scammers Talk About an Audit
The word “audit” is useful to scammers because it sounds official.
People associate an audit with records, government paperwork, deadlines, and possible consequences. A scammer can use that fear to create urgency.
The caller may tell you that your file was selected for review.
He may say your Social Security number appeared in a criminal investigation.
He may claim Medicare found an unusual medical claim.
He may say your benefits could be interrupted if you do not answer questions immediately.
Then comes the important part.
The scammer asks you for information.
This is where the supposed audit becomes a tool for collecting personal data.
A legitimate government agency does not need you to surrender sensitive information simply because an unknown person called you. The FTC specifically warns that government impersonators often create a problem or threat and then demand personal information or money.
What Can Happen After You Give Them Your Information
A Social Security number, date of birth, address, and banking information can give criminals valuable pieces of your identity.
They may try to open accounts in your name.
They may attempt financial fraud.
They may combine your information with data obtained from other sources.
A Medicare number creates another concern.
Criminals can use stolen Medicare information to submit fraudulent medical claims. The FTC warns that Medicare impersonators may specifically seek Medicare numbers so they can file false claims.
That can create problems that are difficult to notice immediately.
You might not realize anything is wrong until you receive an unfamiliar medical bill, see a service on your Medicare records that you do not recognize, or notice another suspicious activity involving your identity.
This is why protecting your information before it leaves your hands is so important.
Caller ID Does Not Prove Anything
One reason these scams work is that the number on your screen can look convincing.
A Washington, D.C. number may appear to belong to a federal agency. Another number may look like a normal American phone number.
But scammers can manipulate caller ID.
The FTC explains that scammers can make almost any name or number appear on your caller ID. This practice is known as spoofing.
That means you should not think, “The number looks official, so the caller must be real.”
The number is not proof.
The caller's confidence is not proof.
A badge number is not proof.
Even information the caller knows about you is not proof.
If you did not expect the call, take control by ending it and contacting the agency yourself.
The Pressure Is the Real Clue
Listen carefully to how the caller behaves.
A scammer usually does not want you to slow down.
He may say you have only a few minutes.
He may tell you not to hang up.
He may insist that transferring the call to another “official” is the only way to solve the problem.
He may tell you not to speak with your spouse, adult child, friend, or anyone else.
He may threaten arrest, loss of benefits, account closure, or another serious consequence.
The Social Security Administration lists pressure, threats, requests for secrecy, demands for personal information, and threats involving a Social Security number as signs of a scam.
You are allowed to pause.
You are allowed to say no.
You are allowed to hang up.
A legitimate agency will still be there when you contact it through an official channel.
What You Should Never Give During an Unexpected Call
If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from Social Security or Medicare, do not provide your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank account details, credit card information, passwords, or one-time verification codes.
Do not read numbers from your Medicare card to a stranger.
Do not confirm information simply because the caller already knows part of it.
And never move your money because someone says a government investigation requires you to “protect” your funds.
The FTC says government impersonators may pressure people to use gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or other payment methods. These demands are a major sign that the person is a scammer.
What to Do If You Already Shared Information
Do not assume the situation is hopeless if you already gave information to a caller.
First, write down what happened while you still remember the details. Include the phone number, date, approximate time, name the caller used, what agency they claimed to represent, and exactly what information you shared.
If you gave banking or payment information, contact your bank or financial institution using a number you know is legitimate.
If you shared your Medicare number or believe someone may be using it, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE, 1-800-633-4227. Medicare specifically advises people who suspect someone is using their Medicare number to contact them.
If the caller claimed to be from Social Security, report the scam to the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General. The OIG provides a reporting system for suspicious calls, messages, and other contacts involving alleged Social Security problems.
You can also report government impersonation scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
One Simple Rule Can Keep You Safe
You do not have to decide whether an unexpected Medicare or Social Security caller is real while you are still on the phone.
Hang up.
Then contact the agency yourself using a trusted official number.
For Medicare questions, Medicare lists 1-800-MEDICARE, 1-800-633-4227 as its official contact number.
For Social Security questions, use contact information you obtain directly from the official Social Security Administration website or your existing official paperwork.
The reported numbers 202-221-7923 and 1-404-461-9352 are only part of a larger impersonation tactic. Scammers can change phone numbers whenever they want. The safest approach is not to memorize every suspicious number. It is to recognize the trick.
If an unexpected caller says there is a problem with your Social Security or Medicare account and immediately asks you to verify sensitive information, end the call and make your own call to the agency. That one step can keep a frightening phone call from becoming a serious identity or financial problem.