Impersonation Scams
Government Impersonation Scam
Scammers pose as IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or law enforcement to demand immediate payment or personal information.
Reported Losses
$1.1 billion (FTC 2024)
Primary Targets
Seniors, immigrants, anyone fearful of government
Last Updated
2026-01-06
Also Known As
IRS Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
Scammers impersonate government officials to create fear and urgency, demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest, deportation, or loss of benefits.
**Common scenarios:** 1. **IRS Scam**: "You owe back taxes. Pay now or you'll be arrested." 2. **Social Security Scam**: "Your SSN has been suspended due to suspicious activity." 3. **Medicare Scam**: "We need your Medicare number to send your new card." 4. **Law Enforcement Scam**: "There's a warrant for your arrest. Pay the fine to avoid jail." 5. **Immigration Scam**: "Your visa has problems. Pay to fix it or be deported."
**Tactics:** - Caller ID spoofing to show real government numbers - Threats of arrest, deportation, or losing benefits - Demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire, or crypto - Requests for Social Security numbers or other personal info - Robocalls with urgent messages to call back
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Government agencies don't call demanding immediate payment
- ⚠️Threats of arrest if you don't pay immediately
- ⚠️Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- ⚠️Caller asks for your Social Security number
- ⚠️Pressure to act immediately without time to verify
- ⚠️Caller ID shows a government number (can be spoofed)
- ⚠️Told not to tell anyone about the call
📝 Real Victim Account
"I received a call saying my Social Security number had been suspended because it was used in a crime in Texas. They said there was a warrant for my arrest and I needed to pay $5,000 immediately to clear my name. They knew my full name and address. I was terrified and bought gift cards as instructed. It wasn't until my daughter came over that I realized it was a scam."
— SSA Office of Inspector General
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Know that IRS, SSA, and Medicare will never call demanding immediate payment
- 2Government agencies communicate primarily by mail for important matters
- 3Never give personal info to incoming callers — hang up and call the agency directly
- 4Use official numbers from government websites (.gov) to verify
- 5Don't trust caller ID — it can be spoofed
- 6Take your time — legitimate agencies allow time to respond
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Stop all contact with the scammer
- 2If you paid, contact your bank or the payment service immediately
- 3Report IRS impersonation to TIGTA at treasury.gov/tigta
- 4Report Social Security scams at oig.ssa.gov
- 5Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 6If you gave your SSN, visit identitytheft.gov
- 7Consider a credit freeze if personal info was compromised
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
Think You've Encountered This Scam?
Use our AI-powered scanner to analyze suspicious URLs, emails, or messages.