Government impersonationPhoneSMS
Government / Social Security impersonator scams
Last updated
Also known as: SSA suspension call, Medicare imposter
What it looks like
Callers claim Social Security, Medicare, or another agency is suspending benefits or that you face arrest unless you pay or confirm personal information.
Who it targets
Especially older adults and benefit recipients.
Red flags
- Threats of arrest or benefit suspension by phone
- Demand for payment by gift card, wire, or crypto
- Requests to ‘confirm’ SSN over the phone after a cold call
What to do if you clicked, paid, or replied
- Hang up; government agencies do not demand those payment methods
- Contact the real agency using a number from its official website
- Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Still circulating?
FTC reports imposter scams as the top category for multiple consecutive years; government-imposter reports rose sharply with toll texts.
Primary source: FTC Consumer Advice · None
Educational summary only. Verify details on the source page. Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov.