INDIANA — Federal regulators are raising the alarm over a sophisticated new variation of government imposter fraud that tricks victims into handing over thousands of dollars by claiming their personal phone numbers were used in international criminal schemes.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned consumers that scammers are increasingly pretending to be agency representatives, using high-pressure tactics, fake law enforcement transfers, and fraudulent credentials to intimidate unsuspecting victims.
Government impersonation schemes remain among the most financially devastating types of fraud in the United States. According to agency data, Americans lost approximately $920 million to government imposter scams last year alone.
How the New Scam Works
“Every day we hear from consumers who’ve gotten calls from someone pretending to be the Federal Trade Commission,” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said in a recent public service announcement. “Unfortunately, many of them report losing money to these imposters.”
The latest variation relies on a step-by-step psychological trick:
- The Initial Warning: A caller pretending to be an FTC agent contacts you, claiming a mobile line registered under your name and phone number is actively being used to conduct fraudulent activity in another country.
- Establishing Fake Authority: To build credibility, the fraudster provides a fake badge or employee identification number.
- The “Police Transfer”: The caller offers to transfer you directly to a fake law enforcement officer or police department to file an official report.
- The Demand for Money: Once connected, the fake officer gathers your personal details under the guise of taking a statement. Eventually, the fraudster claims you must immediately transfer funds, buy gift cards, or wire money to avoid arrest or legal trouble.
Red Flags: How to Spot the Imposter
Agency officials emphasized that government entities will never demand immediate money transfers or threaten citizens over the phone.
“We won’t threaten you or tell you to withdraw your money and give it to someone else,” Ferguson noted. “Only a scammer will do those things.”
The FTC outlined critical warning signs to help consumers identify fraudulent calls:
- Demands for Money: Real FTC employees will never ask you to transfer funds, wire money, buy gift cards, or deposit cash into cryptocurrency kiosks.
- Transfers to “Police”: Official government workers will never connect you to someone asking for money or payment to resolve legal threats.
- Threats of Service Cut-offs: Real FTC agents will never threaten to shut down or disconnect your cellular phone service.
- Requests for Secrecy: Scammers frequently instruct victims to keep the conversation secret from family, banks, or police. The FTC notes secrecy demands are always a sign of fraud.
- Digital “ID Badges”: Real FTC staff will never text or email photos of an official employee badge or ID card to “prove” who they are.
What to Do If You Receive a Call
If you receive a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to represent the FTC or another law enforcement agency:
- Hang Up Immediately: Do not press buttons, speak to an operator, or attempt to verify the person’s identity using phone numbers they provide.
- Verify Independently: If you want to check if a government agency actually needs to reach you, contact the organization directly using an official phone number from a
.govwebsite. - Report the Incident: Consumers who encounter government imposter scams are encouraged to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
