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Government impostor scams: FTC, IRS, SSA and 'federal agents'

Government impostor scams work because most of us want to stay on the right side of the law. A caller says your Social Security number has been "suspended," that you owe back taxes, or that your benefits will stop today — and then offers a way to "fix" it if you pay right now.

Real federal agencies do not work that way. They do not threaten arrest over the phone, they do not ask you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer, and they do not demand you stay on the line while you go to the bank. The articles below show what these calls and messages look like and exactly what to do if you get one.

Updated

How big the problem is

Government impostors are among the costliest scams aimed at older adults. In 2025, people 60 and older reported about $413 million in losses to government impersonation scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Looking more broadly, the FBI said in September 2026 that it had received nearly 61,000 complaints about people impersonating law enforcement or government officials between January 2025 and July 2026, with more than $1.6 billion in reported losses.

The stories scammers tell

The FTC describes the most common scripts, agency by agency:

  • “The FTC”: you’ve won a “federally supervised” prize but must pay taxes or a fee first — or a “refund department” needs your bank account number.
  • “Social Security”: your benefits or Social Security number will be suspended unless you pay immediately, sometimes with threats of arrest. See Social Security scams.
  • “The IRS”: you owe back taxes and face arrest, deportation or loss of a license unless you pay now.
  • “Medicare”: you need a “new” card, or your Medicare number is needed for an equipment claim you don’t recognize. See what to do when “Medicare” calls.
  • “The sheriff” or “the court”: there’s a warrant for your arrest, or you owe a penalty for missing jury duty.
  • “Immigration”: a problem with your application can be fixed only by paying the caller.
  • “Federal agents”: the FBI says scammers spoof the names, phone numbers and credentials of real agencies, accuse you of a crime, keep you on the phone, and tell you not to talk to family, your bank or police. Some use AI to appear as officials on video calls.

Some scammers target specific communities. The FBI has warned that criminals posing as Chinese police, embassy and consulate officials target Chinese speakers and students in the U.S. See police and embassy impostor scams.

EXAMPLE — SCAM
Voicemail transcript (202) 555-0157

This is Special Agent Daniels with the federal investigations division. Your name and Social Security number have been linked to a money laundering case in Texas. A warrant will be issued at 5 p.m. today. Call me back immediately at (202) 555-0157 and do not discuss this matter with anyone, including your bank.

A fake 'federal agent' voicemail This is a made-up example based on real scam reports. Never reply to, call, or tap links in messages like this.

What real government agencies never do

According to the FTC:

  • No government agency will demand payment by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency or payment app, or call, email, text or message you on social media to ask for money or personal information.
  • The FTC won’t ask for money, threaten arrest or promise a prize. It won’t tell you to move money to “protect” it, withdraw cash or buy gold, and won’t ask for your Social Security, bank account or credit card number.
  • Social Security won’t threaten you or suspend your Social Security number, and won’t call, email, text or message you on social media to demand payment or information.
  • The IRS won’t email, text or message you on social media with threats or payment demands, won’t call about taxes without an appointment you set up, and won’t threaten arrest.
  • Medicare won’t ask for your Medicare number or personal information unless you called 1-800-MEDICARE first, and won’t contact you by social media, text or email to sell you something or charge you for your card.

The FBI adds that law enforcement and government officials will never call or text to demand any form of payment or to ask for personal or sensitive information, and never request payment by prepaid card, cryptocurrency or courier.

How to check if a call is real

  1. Hang up — or ignore the message. Don’t press any numbers on a robocall.
  2. Don’t call back the number the caller gave you or the one on your caller ID. Caller ID can be faked to show an agency’s real name and number.
  3. Contact the agency yourself using a number you know is correct:
    • IRS: view your account on irs.gov or call 800-829-1040.
    • Social Security: find your local office on the official SSA website.
    • Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
    • FTC: (202) 326-2000 to check whether a caller really works there.
    • Local police or courts: look up the office’s real number and call.
  4. Don’t click links in unexpected emails, texts or social media messages — delete them.

Scammers may know your name, address or part of your Social Security number. That doesn’t make them real.

If you already paid or shared information

Stop all contact, call your bank or the company you paid with right away, and report the crime to your local police. The FBI also asks victims to file at IC3.gov and keep all records and messages. Our first-hour checklist covers every payment method.

Where to report a government impostor

  • All impostors: ReportFraud.ftc.gov (see how to contact the FTC)
  • Social Security impostors: oig.ssa.gov/report
  • IRS impostors: TIGTA at tigta.gov
  • Medicare fraud: 1-800-MEDICARE or Medicare.gov
  • If you lost money: your local police and IC3.gov
  • If you shared personal information: IdentityTheft.gov

Latest alerts

Guides

Where to report government impostors scams

Reporting helps investigators spot patterns and warn others — even if you did not lose money. Type these addresses yourself or use the links below; do not use links from a suspicious message.

  • Social Security Office of the Inspector General

    Calls, letters or messages from people pretending to be Social Security.

    oig.ssa.gov

  • Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)

    Phone calls from people pretending to be the IRS.

    tigta.gov

  • IRS — report fake IRS emails and messages

    Emails and texts that pretend to come from the IRS or the Treasury.

    irs.gov

  • HHS Office of Inspector General

    Medicare and Medicaid fraud, including people asking for your Medicare number.

    oig.hhs.gov

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

    Any scam, fraud or bad business practice — calls, texts, emails, websites and impostors.

    ReportFraud.ftc.gov

You can also report to your state attorney general. If you sent money, call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card.

Frequently asked questions

What is a government impostor scam?

It's when a scammer pretends to be from a government agency — such as the FTC, IRS, Social Security, Medicare, a court or the police — and claims you owe money or will lose a benefit unless you pay or share personal information right away.

Does the FTC call people?

Typically, no. The FTC says if it ever calls about a report you filed, the caller will have your report's reference number. Anyone else calling as the FTC is probably a scammer. To check, call the FTC at (202) 326-2000.

I got a check or prize notice 'from the FTC.' Is it real?

The FTC does not give out sweepstakes prizes and will never ask you to pay to collect one. Real FTC refunds come from law enforcement cases and are sent by check, prepaid debit card or PayPal — and you never have to pay to get one. Active refund programs are listed at ftc.gov/refunds.

Will the IRS call me about taxes I owe?

The FTC says the IRS won't call about taxes without an appointment you set up, generally contacts you by mail first, and won't threaten arrest. To check, view your account at irs.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

Can government agencies demand payment by gift card or crypto?

No. The FTC says no government agency will demand payment by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency or payment app. The FBI adds that officials never request payment by prepaid card, cryptocurrency or courier.

How do I report a government impostor?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the agency being impersonated: Social Security impostors to oig.ssa.gov, IRS impostors to TIGTA at tigta.gov, and Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE. If you lost money, also contact local police and file at IC3.gov.

Sources

We rely on official government sources. Read how we check facts in our editorial policy.

  1. FTC: How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam (updated Nov. 2023) (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
  2. FBI IC3 PSA I-091726-PSA: Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes (Sept. 17, 2026) (ic3.gov, accessed )
  3. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: 2025 IC3 Annual Report (Elder Fraud section) (ic3.gov, accessed )
  4. ReportFraud.ftc.gov: Frequently Asked Questions (reportfraud.ftc.gov, accessed )
  5. Social Security Administration: Protect Yourself from Scams (ssa.gov, accessed )

Other scam types