Suspicious call from SSA agent about changing my Social Security start date - is this legit?

BE CAREFUL!!! Social Security almost NEVER calls people about their applications! They usually send letters or communicate through your mySocialSecurity account. This sounds like a scam to me. The scammer is trying to get you to call back, and THEN they'll probably ask for your personal info. DON'T CALL THAT NUMBER!!!

While the SSA does occasionally make outbound calls in limited circumstances, it's relatively rare. When they do call, they should identify themselves clearly and provide a way for you to verify they're legitimate. You should call the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) directly to verify if this was a legitimate contact. Don't use the callback number they provided until you've confirmed it's legitimate. They might actually be reaching out about your application, but it's always best to verify independently.

No, I haven't spoken to anyone at SSA since I filed online. That's part of why it seemed suspicious to me.

This is concerning. What you described has several red flags: 1. SSA representatives typically won't suggest specific filing dates (like changing from March to November) - that's a personal financial decision they leave to you 2. The callback number format is unusual - SSA employees typically don't have direct extensions like that 3. The lack of identity verification is concerning - legitimate SSA employees would verify who they're speaking with first I recommend: - Don't call the provided number - Contact SSA directly through the official 800 number (1-800-772-1213) - Report this potential scam to the SSA's Office of the Inspector General - Review your mySocialSecurity account for any unauthorized changes On a separate note, there are legitimate financial considerations between starting benefits at FRA vs. delaying, but that advice should come from a financial advisor, not an unsolicited SSA "employee.

Omg I got almost the exact same call last week!!! But mine was about disability not retirement. They asked for my bank info to "verify my payment method" and I hung up. Total scam!!

I worked through this exact issue last month when trying to reach SSA about my benefit application. After getting suspicious calls, I tried calling the main SSA line and waited for HOURS just to verify if the call was real (it wasn't). I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connected me to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed that SSA rarely makes outbound calls like you described, and we were able to check that my application was processing correctly. Worth checking out if you're struggling to get through on the main line.

I got a call from SSA last year that was actually legitimate! But they verified my identity first by asking for the last 4 digits of my SSN and my birthdate. And they were calling about an appointment I had scheduled, not suggesting changes to my benefit choices. Your situation sounds different.

One important thing to consider - there can be financial implications to your start date choice. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67. For each month you delay beyond FRA (up to age 70), you get an additional 8% per year in benefits (about 0.67% per month). If your FRA was November 2024 and you were planning to start in March 2025, that's 4 months of delayed retirement credits, which would increase your monthly benefit by about 2.67%. So if a caller was suggesting you change from March 2025 back to November 2024 (your FRA), they would essentially be suggesting you forego that increase - which is unusual advice from SSA, as they typically just present options rather than making recommendations. This is another reason to be suspicious of the call.

what about that first phone number he called from? has anyone tried googling it??

After seeing your updates, I'm convinced this was a scam attempt. Here's what likely happened: 1. The scammer somehow obtained partial information about your application (could be from data breaches or public records) 2. They're laying groundwork for a more elaborate scam where they'll eventually try to get your personal information or redirect your benefits 3. The lack of identity verification is the biggest red flag - genuine SSA representatives are required to verify identity You're making the right move by contacting SSA directly. When you do, be sure to: - Report this suspicious call with all details (both phone numbers) - Verify your current application status and start date - Consider adding an extra security step to your mySocialSecurity account if available - Confirm no unauthorized changes have been made Glad you were cautious enough to question this!

Great job trusting your instincts and following through with verification! This is exactly why scammers are so dangerous - they often have just enough real information to sound credible at first. Your experience is a perfect example for others: when in doubt, always hang up and call the official number directly. It's also smart that SSA put a note on your account - this helps them track these scam patterns. Thanks for sharing the resolution - it'll definitely help other community members who might face similar situations!

I'm glad you trusted your instincts and got this resolved! Your experience is a perfect example of why we should always verify suspicious calls. For anyone else reading this, here are some key takeaways: 1. SSA almost never makes unsolicited calls suggesting changes to your benefit elections 2. Legitimate SSA representatives will ALWAYS verify your identity first 3. If you get a suspicious call, hang up and call the official SSA number (1-800-772-1213) directly 4. Never use callback numbers provided by suspicious callers 5. Check your mySocialSecurity account regularly for any unauthorized changes It's concerning that scammers are getting more sophisticated with partial application information. Everyone should be extra vigilant, especially during the application process when you might be expecting legitimate contact from SSA. Thanks for sharing your experience - it will definitely help protect others in our community!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information about this scam attempt. Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea that SSA rarely makes outbound calls or that legitimate representatives would always verify identity first. The red flags you all identified (no identity verification, unusual callback number format, unsolicited benefit advice) are really valuable for someone like me who's just starting to navigate the Social Security system. It's reassuring to see how this community looks out for each other and provides such thorough guidance on protecting against scams. I'll definitely keep these warning signs in mind and always verify through official channels if I ever receive suspicious calls.

As someone who's just joined this community, I'm really grateful for this detailed discussion about SSA scam calls. What stands out to me is how sophisticated these scammers are becoming - having partial application details makes them sound so much more legitimate than the typical "your Social Security number has been suspended" robocalls we usually hear about. The fact that they specifically suggested changing benefit start dates is particularly clever, since it targets people who might not fully understand the financial implications of delayed retirement credits. This thread has taught me that even when callers have some legitimate information, the lack of proper identity verification is always a major red flag. I'll definitely be sharing this example with family members who are approaching retirement age - the step-by-step breakdown of what to do (hang up, call official number, report to SSA) is incredibly valuable guidance that could save someone from a costly mistake.

As a new member of this community, I want to echo everyone's gratitude to @Natasha Kuznetsova for sharing this experience and following through with the official verification. This thread has been incredibly educational for someone like me who's still learning about Social Security processes. What really stands out is how the scammer used just enough legitimate information to seem credible - knowing about the application and suggesting a specific date change. The community's response highlighting key red flags (no identity verification, unusual callback format, unsolicited benefit advice) provides such valuable guidance. I'm particularly grateful for @Malik Davis and @Javier Mendoza's detailed explanations about why legitimate SSA representatives wouldn't make these types of recommendations. This whole discussion reinforces the importance of always verifying through official channels, no matter how legitimate a caller might seem. It's reassuring to see how this community protects and educates each other about these increasingly sophisticated scam attempts!

As a new community member, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed thread about SSA scam calls. What strikes me most is how sophisticated this particular scam was - the caller had legitimate application details and framed their suggestion as helpful advice rather than using typical scare tactics. This is exactly the kind of evolving scam technique that catches people off guard. The red flags identified here (no identity verification, unusual callback number, unsolicited benefit timing advice) are invaluable for newcomers like me to recognize. I'm especially thankful for the clear action steps: hang up, call the official SSA number directly, and report the incident. It's reassuring to see how this community shares experiences to protect each other from these increasingly clever fraud attempts. Thank you to everyone who contributed such thorough guidance!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed and educational discussion about SSA scam tactics. What really strikes me is how this scammer used a "helpful" approach rather than the typical scare tactics - suggesting a benefit change while having partial legitimate information makes it so much more convincing than obvious fraud calls. The red flags you all identified are invaluable: no identity verification, unusual callback format, and most importantly, unsolicited advice about benefit timing that could actually cost money. As someone new to Social Security, I had no idea that legitimate representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - that's a personal financial decision. This thread has taught me to always verify through official channels regardless of how legitimate a caller sounds, and I'll definitely be sharing these warning signs with family members approaching retirement. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova for sharing your experience and following up with the resolution - it creates such a valuable case study for protecting our community!

As a new member of this community, I'm really grateful for this comprehensive thread about SSA scam calls. What strikes me most is how this scammer used legitimate application details to build credibility - that's so much more sophisticated than the typical "your benefits are suspended" robocalls I've heard about. The red flags everyone identified here are incredibly valuable: no identity verification, unusual callback number format, and especially the unsolicited advice about changing benefit timing that could actually cost money in delayed retirement credits. I had no idea that legitimate SSA representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - I would have assumed they might offer that kind of guidance! This thread has taught me to always verify through official channels no matter how legitimate a caller sounds, and I'll definitely be sharing these warning signs with family members. Thank you to everyone who contributed such detailed explanations about why each red flag matters - it's exactly the kind of education newcomers like me need to stay protected from these increasingly clever fraud attempts!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed thread about recognizing SSA scam calls. What really stands out to me is how sophisticated this particular scam was - the caller had specific application details and positioned their suggestion as helpful advice rather than using typical fear tactics. This is exactly the kind of evolving fraud technique that could easily catch someone off guard. The red flags everyone identified here are invaluable for newcomers like me: no identity verification, unusual callback number format, and most importantly, unsolicited benefit timing advice that could actually cost money in delayed retirement credits. I had no idea that legitimate SSA representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - I would have assumed they might offer that guidance! This thread has taught me to always verify through official channels regardless of how legitimate a caller sounds, and I'll definitely be sharing the official SSA number (1-800-772-1213) with family members approaching retirement. Thank you to everyone who contributed such thorough explanations - it's exactly the kind of community protection and education that makes navigating Social Security feel less overwhelming for newcomers!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really thankful for this incredibly detailed discussion about SSA scam tactics. What's particularly alarming about this case is how the scammer used legitimate application details to build trust - that's so much more sophisticated than the typical "your Social Security is suspended" robocalls we usually hear about. The red flags identified here are invaluable for people like me who are new to Social Security: no identity verification, unusual callback number format, and especially the unsolicited advice about benefit timing that would actually cost money in delayed retirement credits. I had no idea that legitimate SSA representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - I assumed they might offer that kind of guidance! This thread has taught me to always verify through official channels no matter how credible a caller sounds, and I'm definitely saving the official SSA number (1-800-772-1213) for future reference. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova for sharing your experience and to all the experienced members who provided such thorough explanations about why each warning sign matters - it's exactly the kind of community protection that helps newcomers like me navigate these systems safely!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive thread about recognizing sophisticated SSA scam calls. What really strikes me is how this scammer moved beyond typical fear tactics ("your benefits are suspended") to use a much more insidious approach - having legitimate application details and positioning their suggestion as helpful advice. The red flags everyone identified are so valuable for people like me who are new to Social Security: no identity verification, unusual callback format, and most critically, the unsolicited benefit timing advice that would actually cost money in delayed retirement credits. I had no idea that legitimate SSA representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - I would have assumed they might offer that kind of guidance! The explanation about how changing from March back to November would forfeit those delayed retirement credits really shows how dangerous this "helpful" advice actually was. This thread has taught me to always verify through official channels (1-800-772-1213) regardless of how credible a caller sounds, and I'll definitely be sharing these warning signs with family members approaching retirement. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova for sharing your experience and following through with verification, and to all the experienced members who provided such detailed explanations about why each red flag matters. This kind of community protection and education is exactly what newcomers like me need to navigate Social Security safely!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for creating such an incredibly educational thread about these sophisticated SSA scams. What really stands out to me is how this scammer used legitimate application details and positioned their call as "helpful advice" rather than the typical scare tactics we usually associate with Social Security fraud. This approach is so much more dangerous because it builds initial trust. The red flags identified here are invaluable for people like me who are new to navigating Social Security: no identity verification upfront, unusual callback number format, and most importantly, unsolicited advice about benefit timing that would actually cost money. I had no idea that legitimate SSA representatives don't make recommendations about when to start benefits - I assumed that might be part of their guidance role! The explanation about delayed retirement credits really drove home how harmful the caller's "helpful" suggestion actually was. Moving from March back to November would have meant forfeiting those additional benefits - exactly the opposite of what someone legitimately trying to help would suggest. This thread reinforces the critical importance of always verifying through the official SSA number (1-800-772-1213) no matter how credible a caller sounds. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova for sharing your experience and following through with proper verification, and to all the experienced members who provided such detailed explanations. This kind of community knowledge-sharing is exactly what newcomers need to protect ourselves from these increasingly clever fraud attempts!