Government Imposter Scams: How to Verify a Call, Text or Letter

How To Tell If A Government Call, Text Or Letter Is Real

Stop before you respond. Real government agencies do not call, text, or email you to demand instant payment, threaten arrest, or ask you to move money to “protect” it. If someone contacts you this way and pressures you to act fast, treat it as a scam until you verify it yourself through an verified channels.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers pretend to be from agencies like the FTC, the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare. They may use a fake employee ID number, a spoofed caller ID, or a made-up agency name to sound .

Four Signs You Are Being Targeted By An Imposter

The contact claims to be a government agency and says there is a problem or a prize.
You are pressured to act immediately, with no time to check the claim.
You are told to pay in a specific way, such as gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
You are asked to give personal information like your Social Security number, bank account, or Medicare number over the phone, by text, or by email.

The FTC states that no real government agency will ever ask you to wire money, send gift cards, send cryptocurrency, or hand cash to a courier. If someone tells you to pay that way, it is a scam.

Verification Checklist: Do Not Skip These Steps

Use this checklist before you send money, share information, or respond to any caller, texter, or letter claiming to represent the government.

Do not use the phone number they gave you. Hang up and look up the agency’s number yourself, through a .gov product page or a document you already have, such as a past tax notice or Social Security statement.
Do not trust caller ID. The FTC confirms caller ID can be faked to show a real agency name or a Washington, D.C. area code, even when the call is not coming from that agency.
Do not click links in unexpected texts or emails. Delete the message instead. A real agency notice will not require you to click a link to “resolve” an urgent problem.
Check the agency exists. If the caller names an unfamiliar office, cross-check it against the federal agency directory at usa.gov. Scammers sometimes invent agency names that sound real.
Confirm how that agency actually contacts people. The IRS, for example, generally contacts taxpayers by mail first, not by phone, text, or social media, before any collection call happens.
Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a payment app based on a call or text. These payment types are hard to trace and hard to reverse, which is why scammers ask for them.

Calls, Texts, Emails And Mailed Letters: What Changes And What Does Not

The warning signs stay the same across every contact method. The verification step is what changes.

Phone call: A caller claims to be a federal agent or officer and demands immediate payment or personal data, often using a spoofed number. Hang up and call the agency back using a number from its .gov product page, not the number the caller gave you.
Text message: A message claims a benefit is suspended or a payment is owed and includes a link to “fix it now.” Do not click the link. Go directly to the agency’s product page by typing the address yourself.
Email: A message uses -looking logos and seals and asks for account numbers or a wire transfer. Check the sender’s actual email address, not just the display name, and contact the agency through its published contact page.
Mailed letter: A letter uses seals and formal language and demands payment by an unusual method or a callback to a number printed in the letter. Look up the agency’s number independently. Legitimate agency mail generally will not demand gift card or cryptocurrency payment.

What The FTC Confirms About Specific Agencies

This guidance reflects confirmed FTC consumer advice as of this writing. Contact the named agency directly for the most current process in your situation.

FTC: The FTC will never ask for money, threaten arrest, or promise a prize. If you are due a refund from an FTC case, it arrives by check, prepaid card, or PayPal, tied to a specific claim you can look up.
Social Security Administration: The agency will not threaten to suspend your Social Security number or demand immediate payment by phone, email, text, or social media.
IRS: The IRS generally sends a letter first if you owe taxes and does not open contact with a threatening call, text, or social media message. Private debt collectors working for the IRS only contact you after two mailed letters, and will never demand payment over the phone.
Medicare: Medicare mails your card automatically and will not call, text, or message you asking for your Medicare number to “process” a new card.

If You Are Not Sure, Do This Instead Of Confronting Anyone

Do not argue with the caller or try to catch them in a lie. Do not agree to “verify” your identity by giving out numbers. Instead:

End the call, ignore the text, or set the letter aside without responding to the sender.
Save any text, email, voicemail, or mailed letter as evidence. Do not delete it once you suspect a scam.
Write down the phone number, email address, or return address used, along with the date and time of contact.
Look up the agency’s real contact information yourself and call to ask if the contact was legitimate.
If you already paid or shared personal information, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to ask about reversing the transaction or securing your account.

How To Report A Government Imposter Scam

The FTC directs consumers to report government impersonation scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report to your state attorney general’s office. If you shared personal information with a scammer, the FTC’s identity theft recovery site walks through next steps for securing your accounts.

Limits Of This Guide

This article summarizes confirmed FTC consumer guidance current as of this writing. It does not cover every possible scam variation, and scam tactics change over time. It is not legal advice and does not replace direct contact with the agency in question or with law enforcement if you believe a crime occurred. If you already sent money or shared sensitive information, contact your bank, the relevant agency, and IdentityTheft.gov directly rather than relying on this checklist alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a scammer really make caller ID show a real government number?

Yes. The FTC confirms caller ID can be faked, so a number that looks correct is not proof the call is real.

Will a real government agency ever ask me to pay with a gift card?

No. According to the FTC, no legitimate government agency asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment app.

What if the caller already has some of my personal information?

Scammers sometimes have partial information, like your name or address, from other sources. Having some accurate details does not confirm the caller is legitimate. Verify independently before responding further.

Where do I report a suspected government imposter scam?

Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you shared personal information, also visit IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps.