# Got a phone call today from the "Social Insurance Administration" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 12, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731 "2019-12-12T01:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/1 "2019-12-12T01:41:10Z")
A recorded announcement told me that my Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used for some illegal purpose and I was in serious trouble and my SIN would be suspended immediately unless I called a given number immediately. My first observation is there is no Social Insurance Administration. The SINs are issued by something called Human Resources Development Canada (if I had ever known that, I had long since forgotten it). Second, what in god’s name does it mean to suspend the number? I can’t remember the last time I used it (except to put on tax returns). Third, the government simply doesn’t work that way with phone calls asking that I call back. What a silly attempt at a scam. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/2 "2019-12-12T01:45:00Z")
At least you reacted correctly. But this poor lady is an example of why they keep trying…[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sin-scam-fraud-1.5378917](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sin-scam-fraud-1.5378917) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/3 "2019-12-12T01:45:53Z")
[It’s a scam.](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/12/what-social-security-scam-sounds) > [@](#): > > This is what a Social Security scam sounds like > December 27, 2018 > by Jennifer Leach > Acting Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC > > Earlier this month, we told you about a growing scam: people pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money. That scam is now growing exponentially. To compare: in 2017, we heard from 3,200 people about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000. So far THIS year: more than 35,000 people have reported the scam, and they tell us they’ve lost $10 million. > > Here’s what one of those scam calls sound like: > > Your browser does not support the audio element. > > Scammers are saying your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Sometimes, he’ll say your bank account is about to be seized – but he’ll tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving him the codes – which, of course, means that your money is gone.) > > Here’s what to know: > > ``` > Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized. > SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time > > ``` Look for “scambaiting” on Youtube. There’s a metric crapload of videos. You can hear the scams in action. ETA: There are also IRS and CRA scams. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/4 "2019-12-12T04:54:35Z")
Is the Social Insurance Number in Canada used as widely as the Social Security Number in the United States? In the United States, as you probably know, it is used for nearly every government function and private financial transaction in the country. Is the equivalent true in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/5 "2019-12-12T05:44:33Z")
I got one from the China Federal Bureau of Investigation ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/6 "2019-12-12T06:45:25Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Is the Social Insurance Number in Canada used as widely as the Social Security Number in the United States? > > In the United States, as you probably know, it is used for nearly every government function and private financial transaction in the country. Is the equivalent true in Canada? No. We Canadians are warned not to give out our Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) to those who do not need them–“those who do not need them” being defined as “anybody who does not provide you income.” So you would provide it to an employer (you get wages), a bank (interest on your deposits), an investment counsellor (you get dividends), and so on. You might need to offer it if a lender (a bank, a mortgage company, a car loan) requires a credit check. Of course, the federal and provincial governments need to know it at tax time, and it’s required to disclose on income tax forms. However, if the federal government asks for it when you apply for a new passport, or the provincial government asks for it when you renew your driver’s license–that’s not fine, and is not allowed. As the last two points indicate, it is stressed that a SIN is not a form of ID; and you can refuse anybody who asks for your SIN when all they need is some other form of ID. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/7 "2019-12-12T13:34:56Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > At least you reacted correctly. But this poor lady is an example of why they keep trying…[Cornwall, Ont., woman loses life savings to terrifying 'SIN scam' | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sin-scam-fraud-1.5378917) “Steve Rogers.” That name alone would have made me suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-phone-call-today-from-the-social-insurance-administration/844731/8 "2019-12-12T17:54:16Z")
This was different from the ones described above in that it was clearly a recorded announcement, didn’t ask for my SIN, but only that I call a certain number, which I obviously didn’t. Another difference is that it purported to come from a non-existent govt. dept. I suspect that the scam was getting me to call a number that would cost me to call. And no, the SIN is not generally used for ID. It used to be that the SS card wasn’t either. In fact, mine issued about 1952 clearly says on it not for ID. Once, a grocery chain refused to give me a cheque cashing card (remember them) because I would not give them my SIN. At the time markets started taking credit cards so I started using them instead. Although I was opposed to the use of credit cards for food as it would inevitably drive up the cost to cover it. Nowadays I do it all the time; I don’t think they will take cheques any more.