Someone says they're from the government

No government agency tells you to move your money to protect it, put cash in a Bitcoin ATM, buy gold, or hand anything to a courier. None calls to say you’ll be arrested unless you pay.

If it’s happening now

You hung up and gave them nothing. You’re done. They may call back from another number, or as a different agency. Same move. If you want to report it: Social Security impostors at oig.ssa.gov/report, IRS impostors to the Treasury Inspector General hotline (800-366-4484), anyone else at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

They’re on the phone or a video call. Hang up. You don’t have to work out whether they’re real first. A badge number, a uniform, a seal on the wall behind them, or your own Social Security number read back to you proves nothing. To check, call the agency on a number you look up yourself.

They told you to look up their number, then called you from it. Caller ID can show an agency’s real number. Hang up and dial it yourself.

A bank, Amazon, or a tech-support line put you through to the FBI, the FTC, or Social Security. Same scam, second voice. Social Security says no company or other agency can transfer a call to it. Hang up.

You’re at the bank, a store, or a Bitcoin ATM with them on the line. Hang up before you take out, buy, or hand over anything. Tell the teller or the clerk what the caller told you to do.

Someone is coming to collect cash, gold, or your card. Don’t hand anything over. Call 911.

It’s been going on for days, and they say you’re close to being cleared. Stop paying and stop answering. Call your bank today, then tell someone you trust.

It’s a letter, text, or email. Don’t call the number or tap the link in it. Check your account on the agency’s own website, or call a number you looked up. A toll or parking-fine text has its own page.

They’re on your computer. Hold the power button until it shuts off, then use your phone. Someone is on the line or on my screen right now.

What to say

• I'm going to hang up and call your office myself.

• Someone called me saying he's an agent from your office. I think I may be the target of a scam. Can you tell me whether a real agent is trying to reach me?

• Someone on the phone says they're a federal agent and told me to take out cash. Can you help me check whether it's a scam?

• Someone pretending to be a government agent got me to send money. I need to report fraud and stop or recall the payment. I need a case number.

• Can you send me that decision in writing, with the documents you based it on?

If something already left your hands

Stop answering them. Call the bank or company the money went through, at the number on your card, receipt, or statement: your bank, the gift card company, the Bitcoin ATM operator, Western Union, or MoneyGram. Ask for a case number. Then save the call log, texts, and receipts (Save evidence without spiraling) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov. If money left by wire or crypto, file with IC3 at the same time you call the bank.

You sent money

How you paid decides who to call and what’s possible. Steps for a bank transfer, wire, or Zelle, a payment app, Western Union or MoneyGram, a Bitcoin ATM or other crypto, gift cards, and cash or gold, handed over or mailed.

If you sent it yourself, your bank may treat it as authorized, and payments like that often aren’t paid back. Ask them to recall or reverse it anyway, and to put their decision in writing. If it’s no, file a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Anyone who later offers to get your money back for a fee is running a second scam, including people who say they’re from the FBI, IC3, the FTC, or a law firm. Someone offers to get my money back.

If you’re 60 or older, or helping someone who is, the National Elder Fraud Hotline assigns a case manager to help with the reports. It won’t call you first.

You gave your Social Security number, a photo of your ID, or bank details

Bank account or card number. Tell the bank on the same call.

Social Security number or a photo of your ID. Report it at IdentityTheft.gov. Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It’s free. Sign in to my Social Security and check that the address and direct deposit are yours. Steps: I gave out a code, password, or card number.

Medicare number. A call about Medicare or your health coverage.

You let them onto your computer or phone

Turn it off. From another device, call your bank, then change your email and bank passwords. I let someone control my computer.

What it looks like

A man who says he's an FBI agent told you to look up your local FBI office on fbi.gov. The call dropped. Now the number fbi.gov lists is calling you.

(214) 555-0100

Incoming call · 10:07 AM

1. Caller Sorry, we got cut off. This is Special Agent Daniel Reyes again, badge number 2291. You can see the number I'm calling from. That's our field office.
2. Caller Your information was used to open an account that bought firearms. Until we clear you, every account in your name can be frozen.
3. Caller From here we talk on Signal. It's encrypted, so the people who stole your identity can't listen in. Download it and I'll message you there.
4. Caller This is a federal investigation. Don't discuss it with your family or anyone at your bank.

What do you do?

• Download Signal. The number checks out
• Hang up, then dial the field office yourself and ask whether an agent is really trying to reach you
• Stay on, but don't share anything until he proves who he is

Show the answers

• Wrong move Download Signal. The number checks out Caller ID can show any number, including the FBI's. The dropped call was part of it: he had you look the number up, then called from it. The FBI says it doesn't ask people to move to an encrypted app.
• Best move Hang up, then dial the field office yourself and ask whether an agent is really trying to reach you A call that comes to you proves nothing, whatever number it shows. When you dial the number yourself, you reach the real office.
• Wrong move Stay on, but don't share anything until he proves who he is Scammers read people their own old addresses and phone numbers to sound official. Nothing he says can prove it, and staying on is what he wants.

Caller ID can show the agency's real number. Only a call you dial yourself reaches the agency.

You hung up and called the field office yourself, at the number on fbi.gov.

(214) 555-0100

Outgoing call · 10:12 AM

1. Operator FBI, how may I direct your call?
2. You Does a Special Agent Daniel Reyes work there?
3. Operator Yes, we have an agent by that name. I can't give out anything else.

The office says it has an agent by that name. What do you say next?

• Thank the operator. He's real, so download Signal and do what he says
• Tell the operator you think someone is using his name to scam you, and ask whether a real agent is trying to reach you
• Ask the operator to put you through to Agent Reyes

Show the answers

• Wrong move Thank the operator. He's real, so download Signal and do what he says Scammers use the names of real agents. The FBI's Newark office warns that the person who answers may confirm the name, and victims take that as proof. It proves the name is real, not who called you.
• Best move Tell the operator you think someone is using his name to scam you, and ask whether a real agent is trying to reach you That's what the FBI tells people to say. It lets the office check whether anyone there is actually contacting you. A real agent won't ask you for money.
• Okay Ask the operator to put you through to Agent Reyes Also safe. You dialed the real office, so whoever picks up is real. Say why you're calling so they can check.

"Does this agent work there?" checks a name. "Is an agent trying to reach me?" checks the call.

You applied for retirement benefits on ssa.gov nine days ago.

(410) 555-0163

Incoming call · 2:31 PM

1. Caller Hi, this is Angela Ruiz with Social Security. I'm calling about the retirement application you filed online on the 14th.
2. Caller I need to confirm two things before I can finish it. What month do you want your benefits to start, and are you still working?
3. Caller If you'd rather call back, ask for me at your local office.

What do you do?

• Hang up and ignore it. Social Security doesn't call people
• Tell her you'll call back, then call your local office at the number from Social Security's office locator
• Answer her questions. You did apply

Show the answers

• Wrong move Hang up and ignore it. Social Security doesn't call people It does. Social Security says it calls people who recently applied, who need to update their record, or who asked for a call. If this one is real, she still needs those answers.
• Best move Tell her you'll call back, then call your local office at the number from Social Security's office locator It fits a real call: it's about something you just did, and there's no threat, payment, or secrecy. You still can't see who's on the line. Calling back takes longer, but it settles it.
• Okay Answer her questions. You did apply Probably fine. A start month and whether you're working won't help anyone steal from you. If she moves on to your bank details or a payment, hang up and call the office.

Social Security does call. When you're not sure, call back on a number from ssa.gov.

What they’ll ask for

Each of these is the scam. The move doesn’t change: hang up and call the agency yourself.

“Your Social Security number has been suspended.” Or it’s “linked to drug trafficking.” Social Security doesn’t suspend numbers.

“There’s a warrant out for you. Pay the fine now and it goes away.” Often for missed jury duty. The FBI says law enforcement doesn’t call or text to demand payment of any kind.

“Move your savings to a protected account until we clear you.” No agency tells you to move your money to protect it.

“Withdraw cash. An agent will pick it up.” “Buy gold.” “Put cash in a Bitcoin ATM and scan this code.” “Buy gift cards and read me the numbers.” No agency asks for any of these.

“Stay on the call and keep your camera on. If you hang up, that’s obstruction.” Hanging up isn’t a crime. End the call. If you can, photograph or record the screen first and send it to tips.fbi.gov.

“Don’t tell your family or the bank. This is a confidential federal case.” The FBI lists secrecy as a scammer tactic. Tell someone you trust, and tell your bank.

“Download Signal so we can talk securely.” The FBI says it doesn’t ask people to switch to an encrypted app.

“Pay now or you’ll be deported.” USCIS doesn’t take fees from a person by phone or email. Hang up and check with USCIS yourself.

“Send me a photo of your driver’s license.” “Confirm your Social Security number.” They called you. Agencies don’t call unexpectedly to collect these.

How to check with the real agency

Type the agency’s web address yourself and get the number there, not from the message or the caller.

Social Security. Sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount, or call 1-800-772-1213. It does call sometimes: after you apply for benefits, when your record needs updating, or when you asked it to.

IRS. Sign in at IRS.gov/account to see balances you owe and digital notices from the IRS, or call 800-829-1040. The IRS starts most contact by mail. It or a private collection agency may call about an account matter, but it doesn’t call to demand payment right away, threaten arrest, or tell you about a refund. More: A message about your taxes or a refund.

Medicare. Call 1-800-633-4227. More: A call about Medicare or your health coverage.

The FBI or another federal agency. Find the office on the agency’s own website. For the FBI, use the FBI field offices list. If you can’t reach anyone there, contact the FBI’s main office in Washington, D.C. Tell whoever answers you think you may be the target of a scam, and ask whether a real agent is trying to reach you. “Yes, he works here” only means the name is real.

A court, jury duty, or a warrant. Call the clerk of court at the number on the court’s own website. Federal courts reach jurors mostly by mail and don’t ask for sensitive information by phone or email.

Local police or sheriff. Call the non-emergency number on the department’s own website.

Immigration. Sign in to your USCIS account at my.uscis.gov. USCIS doesn’t accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards.