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    How to Spot a Government Imposter Scam

    Learn how scammers pretend to be from the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare — and exactly what to do when they call.

    4 min read · 7 steps · Checked April 2026

    1. Step 1. Hang up right away

      As soon as you realize the call is claiming to be from the government and asking for money or personal information, hang up. You do not have to be polite. Government scammers count on politeness.

    2. Step 2. Do not press 1 or any other number

      If a robocall says "Press 1 to speak to an agent," do not press anything. Pressing a key tells the scammer your line is active and leads to more calls. Just hang up.

    3. Step 3. Never pay in gift cards, crypto, or wire transfer

      No real US government agency will ever ask you to pay with Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or Target gift cards. No agency takes Bitcoin. No agency demands a wire transfer. If any of these are asked for — stop.

    4. Step 4. Verify by calling the real number yourself

      If you are unsure a call was fake, look up the agency's real number: IRS at 1-800-829-1040, SSA at 1-800-772-1213, Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. Call that number and ask if there is a real issue. There almost never is.

    5. Step 5. Do not give out your Social Security or Medicare number

      Never confirm, read aloud, or type in your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank account, or credit card based on an unexpected call. Treat your SSN like your house key — only people you already trust get it.

    6. Step 6. Tell a family member what happened

      Even if you did not fall for it, call a grown child or trusted friend and describe the call. Scams come in waves — if one person in the family got called, others might too. Sharing the story warns everyone.

    7. Step 7. Report the scam to the FTC and IC3

      File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money or sent anything, also file at IC3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center). Reports help investigators shut down scam operations. They truly do make a difference.

    A government imposter scam is when a stranger calls, emails, or texts pretending to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, the FBI, or another government agency. They try to scare or pressure you into sending money, paying a fine, or giving up personal information. These scams cost Americans more than $500 million in 2024 alone, according to the FTC.

    The script almost always sounds the same. There is a problem — your Social Security number has been "suspended," you owe the IRS money, your Medicare card is about to be canceled. You are told to act fast. You are told not to hang up. You are told to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer. The voice may sound official and even know some of your personal information, which feels convincing but is not.

    Here is the truth that makes every one of these scams fall apart: the real US government will not do any of this. The IRS does not call demanding immediate payment. Social Security does not suspend numbers (Social Security numbers cannot be suspended). Medicare does not call to offer "free back braces" or ask you to confirm your number over the phone. These agencies mail you letters. If there is a real issue, you get paper in your mailbox first.

    What scammers want most is money and your personal information. If they can get you to read the numbers off a gift card, they drain it in minutes. If they get your Social Security number and date of birth, they can open credit cards in your name. If they get remote access to your computer, they can empty your bank account while you watch.

    The best defense is a simple rule: if a call demands urgency, money, or secrecy — it is a scam. Hang up. Do not press any buttons. Do not call them back at the number they gave you. If you are worried the call might actually be real, look up the agency's real phone number yourself (on the back of your Medicare card, or at ssa.gov, irs.gov, or medicare.gov) and call them directly.

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