Scam? Call "from AT&T" asking for SS#

Hello Community,

If you are getting a call from a strange number, yourself, or if you have received a call from 00000000, we highly recommend you not answer the call or share any personal information.

This can also affect your family or friends who may say they received a call from you, but you didn't call them. This is known as caller ID spoofing which is a way a "caller" deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity" as defined by the FCC. Fraudsters do this in an attempt to get your information and fraudulently access your account.

Below you will find apps you can download to help identify & report suspicious calls, tips to help protect yourself from deceptive calls, and some of the tactics fraudsters use. AT&T will never ask you to send us your personal or account information via email or text message. 

Protect Your Call Experience

Download the AT&T Call Protect app. (for Android and iOS)

Download the AT&T Mobile Security App.

Phone scam tactics (things AT&T will not do and what you should ignore)

Phone scams can be difficult to detect, so pay special attention to calls that:

• Request that you verify personal data (such as your Social Security number).
• Request that you visit a website that appears to be affiliated with AT&T or another company.
• Use an automated voice instructing you to return their call.
• Instruct you to return their call at a different phone number than the one shown by Caller ID.
• Claim to be a computer technician with a technical support company requesting remote access to your computer.
• Claim you have won a sweepstakes, contest, or other item of value.
• Claim you owe a debt or fine and ask that you take care of it today.
• Request to verify a PIN code by phone without you having personally initiated an update to an account, service, or profile.

Protect yourself from deceptive callers

• Use caution when giving out or verifying personal or financial information over the phone. Initiate the call yourself and only call a phone number that you can verify as legitimate.
• Never use your myAT&T account information to sign in to any website other than the AT&T website listed on your statement.
• Register your phone number with DoNotCall.gov.
• Stay informed and know your rights by visiting the FCC Consumer Help Center.

Resources & Things to Know

Check out our Fraud & Security Resources to learn how you can protect your personal information and how to report concerns. Check out what the FCC is doing. 

Learn more about what AT&T is doing to stop these robocalls.

Thanks

Tim, AT&T Community Specialist

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@Luluna wrote:

I just got a call from a 1-800 number ending in 8804. It was a recorded message saying that my AT&T account had been flagged for security reasons, and to give the last four numbers of the social security of the account holder "after the beep" in order to avoid an interruption in service. It sounded very suspicious to me, so I hung up. It's not legit, is it?

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No. 

Did you investigate further on this? 

Today I got the same call, but the starnge thing was that the calling number was mine.

I got this same call, but I wasn't thinking and typed in my last 4 digits.  Now what?!  Help!

Thanks for the heads up! This post serves as a warning to everyone that that particular scam is prevalent these days so let us remain vigilant.

I found several phone numbers listed at Callercenter.com, too. The authorities might like to investigate on the complaints and get the scammers behind bars!

I got a call today a voice. The number was private. They said a satalite problem billed me over $100 for a international call and it sent up a red flag so they needed to know if I made one. They used the word "sir" before and after every sentence. I told them I don't make international calls. They called my cell which was highly unusual. I asked for I.D. They sent me a text with 6 digits that looks exactly like an AT&T text. It's just a online snapshot to get your confidence in them. Bottom line is they had my name and address and wife's name. Just needed my SS# last 4 digits. I was stupid and gave it to them. They said they were in Boise, Idaho but stammered. They were latino and chewing gum. I say "they" because when I asked to talk to the manager/supervisor it was the same voice not even altered. I asked for names of both and they gave me two non-latino names. I was having my wife lookup this scam on Google at the same time. They stalled me, went to a store within 30 minutes after adding a name to my AT&T account online and changing the address to NY, NY and bought 2 iphones. They also had my SIM cards remotely removed so my cell phone stopped working within 20 minutes. I called the real AT&T and had this purchase removed. I also had my password changed, etc. Then I contacted the credit agency to red flag them from using my SS#. My bank as well.

This is why we have added the account passcode security and stopped using last 4 of SSN to accounts.

The scam is intended to get someone else added to your account as a retail authorized user and have the last 4 of the SSN. Then they go to an APPLE Store (usually always in NYC) and add lines. AT&T will never, ever call and tell you unsolicited and ask for information or request to add users or anything like that.