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Scam library

Fake government or police

Someone posing as the IRS, Social Security, police or a court demands payment to avoid arrest.

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How much people are talking about "jury duty scam" online, measured by LunarCrush. Attention, not a count of victims.

What it looks like

Call transcript: "This is Agent Morris with Social Security. Your number was used in a crime and will be suspended. Press 1 to speak with an officer."
Text: Notice from County Court. You missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued. Call 555-0142 today to resolve.
Call transcript: "This is the IRS. You owe back taxes. If you don't pay with gift cards in the next hour, local police will come to your home."

How it works

The caller uses a scary story: a warrant, missed jury duty, back taxes or a Social Security number tied to a crime. They keep you on the phone, sometimes pass you to a fake supervisor, and push you to pay right now. They want gift cards, a wire, crypto, cash at a Bitcoin ATM or cash handed to a courier, and sometimes your Social Security number and bank details.

Warning signs

  • Threats of arrest, deportation or a suspended Social Security number
  • Payment by gift card, crypto, Bitcoin ATM, wire or cash pickup
  • They tell you to stay on the line and not talk to anyone
  • The IRS usually contacts people first by mail, not a surprise call
  • Badge numbers and official words, but no letter you can check
If you got one of these
  1. Hang up. Real agencies do not demand payment over the phone with threats.
  2. Look up the agency's number on its official .gov website and call it yourself.
  3. Do not give your Social Security number, bank details or Medicare number to a caller.
  4. For jury duty, call your court's clerk using the number on the court's own website.
If you already paid or shared something
  1. Call your bank fraud line now. For gift cards, call the number on the back of the card and keep the receipts.
  2. If you used a Bitcoin ATM, report the transaction to the ATM operator and keep the receipt.
  3. If you shared your Social Security number, go to identitytheft.gov and consider a free credit freeze.
  4. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.

Who gets targeted

Often older adults and immigrants, and anyone who respects authority and wants to fix a problem quickly.

Also read: Is this call from my bank, the IRS, or the police real?

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