Government Impersonation
Scammers impersonate tax, immigration, or law enforcement agencies to scare victims into immediate payment. The threat is always urgent — arrest, deportation, frozen assets — and the payment is always untraceable: gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto.
How it worksThe anatomy of the scam
Every case follows roughly the same playbook. Recognize the pattern, stop it early.
1. The threatening call
Automated or live — 'This is the IRS. There's a warrant for your arrest.'
2. Spoofed caller ID
The number shows as the actual agency so you can't verify by looking it up.
3. Demand for immediate payment
Gift cards, wire transfer, Bitcoin ATM — always something untraceable.
4. Stay-on-the-line tactic
You're told not to hang up, not to tell anyone, not to leave the building.
Warning signsRed flags to watch for
If you're seeing two or more of these, assume it's a scam until proven otherwise.
Any call threatening arrest
Real agencies never arrest you over the phone.
Payment in gift cards or Bitcoin
The IRS doesn't take Target gift cards.
Told not to hang up or tell anyone
Isolation is a scammer tactic.
Protect yourselfDo this. Not that.
✓ Do
Hang up and call the agency directly using the number on their official website.
✗ Don't
Never pay a government debt with gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers.
✓ Do
Tell a family member or friend — scammers rely on isolation.
✗ Don't
Never give your Social Security number or personal info to an incoming caller.
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