How to Spot a Government Imposter Scam

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.