Imposter Scams

You get a call from someone who says they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or even local police departments. They may say that you owe back taxes, that your Social Security number was used in a crime, or that you missed jury duty.

They threaten to sue, arrest, or deport you, or revoke your license if you don’t pay right away. They tell you to put money on a prepaid debit card or purchase a gift card and provide them with the card numbers.

The caller may know some of your Social Security number. Your caller ID might show the name of the agency they claim to be from. Caller IDs can be changed to reflect the name of a legitimate agency.

Real government agencies will never ask you to pay with prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or wire transfers. They also will not ask for a credit card over the phone. If you owe money to a federal agency they will correspond via mail.

• Never send money with a gift card or prepaid debit card or wire. Once you send the money it is gone.
• Contact the agency directly if you have questions about the legitimacy of the claim.
• Share this information with a friend. You may not have received one of these calls, but chances are you know someone who has.