What is a Government Impersonation Scams?
How It Works — Step by Step
- Robocall or live call from a 'government agent' with an official-sounding badge number
- Claims your Social Security number has been suspended due to criminal activity
- Or: you owe back taxes and a warrant has been issued for your arrest
- Or: you've 'won' a government grant but must pay processing fees first
- Payment demanded immediately via iTunes/Google Play gift cards, wire transfer, or crypto
- Threatened with immediate arrest if you don't comply or hang up
Top Countries (Victims)
Top Platforms Used
⚠️ Warning Signs
- Government agencies don't call demanding immediate payment
- Real IRS sends letters first — never calls threatening arrest
- Request for gift cards — no government agency accepts these
- Threatening arrest if you don't pay right now
- Asking for your Social Security number over the phone
- Automated call asking you to press 1 to speak with an agent
✅ How to Protect Yourself
- Hang up immediately — real agencies send written notices first
- Never pay any 'fee' or 'fine' via gift cards, wire, or crypto
- The IRS will never call threatening immediate arrest
- Verify any government communication by calling the agency directly (use their official website number)
- Tell elderly relatives about this scam — they are primary targets
Real Cases from Our Database
[US] Do not order beauty products from Cradelia.com I saw a beauty product advertised on Instagram. It's a "Multi-balm" containing PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide), Collagen and some other jazz (Not Sal...
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I ordered it on Friday 5/15 and, asked when it would be ship...
Scam calls are getting way more convincing than I realized Last week I got one of those phone calls that seemed normal at first… until it suddenly really wasn’t… ...
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To start with, there’s this small organic grocery store near my place that I shop at occasionally and it’s one of those local places with overpriced smoothies and oat milk everything ...
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Anyway, I got a call from someone claiming they were from the store’s parent company or promotional department or something like that… And they said...
[US] Provided info to a scammer but changed it last second. Am I cooked? I was just trying to contact progressive insurance because I was curious about their rates. But when I called the number it rew...
is this voicemail a scam? transcript: Eva. I'm calling on behalf of documents delivery services. We have been retained to schedule and deliver legal documents to you between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM...
If we are unable to deliver these documents after 2 attempts, it will be classified as a failed action to serve in which it will...
Possible delivery middleman scam? Hello! I'm in desperate financial situation and received an email from a company called Smart Freight who claimed to have met me through Indeed; my memory is rather s...
Facebook Marketplace Today I put up my first two items on Facebook marketplace. I was so excited when I had TWO people interested in buying my desk. They both stated that they tried to message me on F...
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I texted the first person who commented. She asked if I wanted the money through Zelle or Venmo, I said Zelle. A few seconds later I got an email (in my junk email, red flag number one) stating that s...
📋 Where to Report Government Impersonation Scams
- FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov)
- Treasury Inspector General (tigta.treasury.gov)
- SSA Office of Inspector General (oig.ssa.gov)
- FBI IC3 (ic3.gov)