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Government Impersonation Calls

Real government agencies never call to threaten you with arrest or demand payment by gift card.

A caller claims to be from the IRS, Social Security, the police, or immigration. They say you owe taxes, your Social Security number was used in a crime, or there is a warrant for your arrest, and that you must pay right now to avoid arrest or deportation. Scammers often speak Korean and may even claim to be from the Korean consulate or Korean police, because they know how frightening these threats feel to immigrants. Real agencies send letters first, never threaten you on the phone, and never ask for gift cards or wire transfers.

Watch: how this scam works

Published by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission · 1:34 Open the original

Warning signs

  • The caller threatens arrest, deportation, or losing your Social Security benefits unless you pay today.
  • They demand payment by gift cards (Google Play, Apple, Target), wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash in the mail. Real agencies never do this.
  • They tell you to keep the call secret and not talk to family, your bank, or a lawyer.
  • They already know some of your information (name, address) and use it to sound official.
  • The caller ID shows a real agency name or Washington DC number. Caller ID can be faked.
  • A Korean-speaking caller claims to be the Korean consulate, Korean police, or prosecutors saying you are involved in a crime.

How to protect yourself

  • Hang up. It is not rude. It is safe. A real agency will not punish you for hanging up.
  • If you are worried the call might be real, look up the agency's official phone number yourself and call back. Never use a number the caller gives you.
  • Remember: the IRS and SSA start with a letter in the mail, not a threatening phone call.
  • No government agency accepts gift cards. The moment you hear "gift card," it is a scam.
  • Talk to someone you trust before sending any money. Scammers isolate you on purpose.

If it happened to you

  1. If you paid by gift card, call the gift card company right away. Some cards can be frozen if you act quickly. Keep the card and receipt.
  2. If you wired money or paid from your bank, call your bank immediately and ask them to try to reverse or stop the transfer.
  3. Write down everything you remember: the phone number, what they said, how you paid, and when.
  4. You did nothing wrong. You were threatened by professionals. Report it, and tell family and friends so they are warned too.

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