Government Impersonation Scams

 Scammers impersonating government officials from agencies like the IRS, FBI, FTC, or Social Security often contact seniors by phone, email, or even mail, claiming that the victim owes back taxes, is under investigation, or needs to pay a fine. The scammer threatens arrest, legal action, or loss of benefits unless immediate payment is made via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency. In some cases, scammers warn that the victim's bank account or Social Security number has been compromised and convince them they can assist with the investigation by transferring funds into a "secure" account, which is controlled by the scammer.

You receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, saying you owe back taxes or that your Social Security number has been compromised. The “agent” explains that if you don’t pay immediately, you’ll be arrested, sued, or have your benefits suspended. The scammer may tell you your bank account has been hacked and that you need to move your funds to a secure account to assist with a government investigation. The caller sounds convincing, and the caller ID even shows the IRS or another official agency. Panicked, you follow their instructions, transferring money to what you believe is a secure government account—only to later discover it was all a scam.

• Demand for Immediate Action: Government agencies do not demand immediate payment, especially over the phone. If someone is threatening arrest or legal action unless you act right away, it’s a scam.
• Unusual Payment Methods: Requests for payment via prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other non-traceable methods are a major red flag. Legitimate government bodies will never ask for these types of payments.
• Threatening Language: Scammers often use aggressive or threatening language, such as "You’ll be arrested," "Your benefits will be cut," or "You’ll be sued." Government agencies will never threaten you with arrest or legal action for not making immediate payments.
• Unsecured Accounts & Fake Investigations: If a caller claims your bank account is not secure or that your Social Security number has been compromised, and they ask you to transfer funds to a "secure" account, this is a scam. The government doesn’t ask for financial help to conduct investigations.
• Spoofed Caller ID: Just because the caller ID looks like it’s from the IRS or another official agency doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Scammers often use technology to make the caller ID appear official (a tactic known as "spoofing").
• Pressure for Secrecy: Scammers may instruct you to keep the call or payment secret, claiming it’s part of an ongoing investigation or security measure. Legitimate government bodies will never ask you to keep things secret.

Additional Warning: Scammers may spoof phone numbers to make the caller ID appear legitimate. Always verify calls or emails by contacting the government agency directly using official phone numbers found on their website, not those provided by the caller or email. Government agencies like the IRS and Social Security will never ask you to send money over the phone.