INDIANA — Consumer protection officials are issuing urgent warnings as government impersonation scams continue to surge nationwide.
According to data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s primary consumer protection agency received over 375,000 reports of government impersonation scams in 2025 alone, with total consumer losses topping $900 million.
How the Scams Work
Government impersonation schemes typically initiate through unexpected text messages, phone calls, social media messages, or emails claiming to represent a federal, state, or local government agency.
To catch victims off guard, fraudsters manufacture high-pressure scenarios designed to induce panic and force immediate action before the target has time to verify the claim or consult a trusted party.
Beyond direct outreach, bad actors are increasingly buying fraudulent advertisements at the top of major search platforms like Google Search and Bing. These search ads mimic official government portals, directing unsuspecting users to scammer-controlled websites and phone numbers.
Top Agencies Targeted by Impersonators
Scammers routinely spoof a wide variety of public institutions:
- Social Security Administration: Fraudsters claim benefits will be terminated or Social Security numbers suspended unless immediate payment is made. Social Security Administration
- Federal Trade Commission: Impostors claim to be FTC “agents” offering to assist in recovering previously stolen funds or transferring money to “safe” accounts.
- Medicare: Scammers solicit personal details under the guise of issuing “new” Medicare cards or resolving questionable equipment claims.
- State Tolling Agencies: Victims receive fraudulent texts referencing local toll collection networks (such as E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, or TxTag) demanding link-based payments for bogus “overdue” charges.
- Local Law Enforcement and Courts: Phone calls or emails pretend to originate from local police departments or courts, claiming the recipient missed jury duty or faces an active arrest warrant unless an immediate fine is paid.
Manipulation Tactics
To appear legitimate, scammers frequently alter caller ID displays to spoof real agency phone numbers. They may also send fraudulent photos of fake agency credentials or credentials via email or text, distribute realistic-looking official letters by mail, and leverage paid search engine ad placements to intercept public inquiries.
Red Flags to Watch For
The FTC emphasizes that legitimate government entities will never:
- Direct you to transfer or move money to “protect” it. Social Security Administration
- Threaten immediate benefit suspension over the phone or via text. Social Security Administration
- Demand payment via cryptocurrency, payment apps, wire transfers, or gift cards. Social Security Administration
- Contact you out of the blue via messaging apps (such as WhatsApp) or text to demand payment, sensitive personal information, or account access credentials. Social Security Administration
Consumers who encounter or suspect a government impersonation scheme are urged to submit a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Social Security Administration
