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    Safety & Privacy
    Beginner
    1 min read 5 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Spot Government Impersonation Scams

    The IRS, Social Security, and Medicare never call threatening arrest. Here's how to stay safe.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    1 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    scams
    government
    irs
    social-security
    fraud

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Common scams
    2. 2.How real agencies contact you
    3. 3.Red flags
    4. 4.What to do
    5. 5.Tell others
    1

    Common scams

    ~15s
    Someone calls claiming to be from the IRS saying you owe taxes and face arrest. Or Social Security saying your number has been "suspended." Or Medicare saying your card needs renewal. These are all scams.
    2

    How real agencies contact you

    ~15s
    The IRS contacts you by mail first, never by phone threatening arrest. Social Security doesn't "suspend" numbers. Medicare never calls to sell you a plan. No government agency accepts gift cards as payment.
    3

    Red flags

    ~15s
    Threatening arrest or legal action. Demanding immediate payment. Asking for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Creating urgency ("pay now or be arrested today"). Spoofed caller ID showing a government number.
    4

    What to do

    ~15s
    Hang up right away. Don't press any buttons or provide information. If worried, call the real agency using the number on their official website (ssa.gov, irs.gov). Report scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
    5

    Tell others

    ~15s
    These scams disproportionately target seniors. Share this information with older family members and friends. The more people know the patterns, the less effective these scams become.

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    government
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    social-security
    fraud

    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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