Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation is the largest impostor-scam category tracked by the FTC — 330,000+ reports in 2025, up 25% year-over-year. The IRS calls about back taxes. A Social Security agent says your number is suspended. A police officer says there's a warrant. A jury-duty notice demands payment. They are all scams. Real government agencies do not call to demand money, threaten arrest, request gift cards, or ask for your SSN over the phone. Here's how each version works and what to do.
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Red flags to watch for
A caller claims to be from the IRS, SSA, Medicare, FBI, or a local court and demands immediate payment.
You're told to pay in gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or by depositing cash into a "secure" account. No real agency accepts any of these.
The caller threatens immediate arrest, deportation, license suspension, or loss of benefits if you don't act in the next hour.
Caller ID shows the agency's real number — spoofing is trivial and every agency's real number is on the internet.
You're asked to confirm your SSN, Medicare number, date of birth, or bank account info "to verify your identity".
A text or email asks you to click a link to update your tax info, Social Security record, or unclaimed benefit.
A "fraud investigator" calls and tells you to keep the call confidential — even from your spouse or bank.
Brands scammers impersonate
These are the brands most often used in this category of scam. Tap any one for a deep-dive on how scammers impersonate them and what the real brand will never do.
What to do if it’s happening to you
- 01
Hang up. Do not call back any number the caller provided. Do not press any keypad option to "speak with a representative" — that connects you to the scammer.
- 02
If you're worried it might be real, look up the agency's real number yourself (irs.gov, ssa.gov, medicare.gov, your county sheriff) and call from there.
- 03
If you've already paid, contact the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov within 24 hours. Some wire transfers and crypto transactions can be flagged or frozen if reported fast enough.
- 04
If you gave out your SSN, place a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion immediately and file an identity-theft report at IdentityTheft.gov.
- 05
Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the agency the scammer impersonated — the IRS uses phishing@irs.gov, the SSA uses oig.ssa.gov.
- 06
Tell at least one trusted person what happened. Scammers count on shame keeping you quiet so they can call back with a "recovery" scam later.
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Read the guideFrequently asked questions
Does the IRS ever call about back taxes?+
The IRS always sends a paper letter through the US Postal Service first. They will not call out of the blue, demand immediate payment, or threaten arrest. They also do not accept gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers as payment. Any call that says otherwise is a scam.
Will Social Security suspend my number for "suspicious activity"?+
No. Social Security numbers are not suspended. The SSA does not call to threaten benefit cancellation, ask you to confirm your number, or request payment in gift cards. The single most common 2026 scam is the "your SSN is linked to a crime" call — every version of it is fake.
How do I know if a Medicare call is real?+
Real Medicare does not call you out of the blue. They communicate by mail. They never ask for your full Medicare number, banking info, or to confirm personal details by phone. If a caller mentions a new Medicare card, free supplies, or genetic testing — hang up. Report to 1-800-MEDICARE.
I already sent gift cards to a "government" caller. What can I do?+
Call the gift card company's fraud line immediately (the number is on the back of the card) and report the theft. Some balances can be frozen if you act within minutes-to-hours. Then file with the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Do not engage with anyone who calls offering to "recover" the funds — that's the second wave of the same scam ring.
Can scammers really make their call look like it's from the IRS?+
Yes. Caller-ID spoofing is trivial and free — scammers can display any name and number they want, including the real IRS, SSA, local police, or your bank. Never trust caller ID. If a "government agency" calls, hang up and call the agency back yourself using a number from their official website.
Sources: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2025 · IRS Dirty Dozen 2026 · SSA Office of the Inspector General · FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report
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