Beware of scammers impersonating government officials: What you need to know.

As we bring more of our lives online, it’s becoming easier for scammers to trick us into believing they’re someone we should trust. One especially troubling trend is the rise in fraudsters who fake that they’re federal or local government officials.

“These scams can start through phone calls, text messages, emails or online pop-up notifications,” said Chris Garcia, manager of corporate investigations with Commerce Bank. “They’re designed to be highly convincing and they can happen to anyone, so it’s important to know what signs to look for to protect yourself.”

What is a law enforcement or government impersonation scam?

Government impersonation scams involve fraudsters posing as officials from federal or local government agencies and law enforcement to trick you into handing over money or personal information. The scammers often claim to be from well-known agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration (SSA) or even local law enforcement.

Their goal is to create fear and urgency to push you into acting without thinking first. Common scams include:

• IRS and Tax-Related scams:Scammers claim you owe back taxes and threaten you with arrest if you don't pay immediately.
• Social Security Administration scams: Scammers claim your Social Security number has been compromised or suspended and you need to pay to get it reinstated.
• Local law enforcement and court-related scams:Fraudsters pretend to be police officers or court officials and claim there’s a warrant out for your arrest, potentially for missing jury duty. They claim that if you don’t pay fines immediately, you’ll be arrested.
• Other federal agencies: Scammers impersonate agencies like the FBI, Medicare or even immigration authorities, using scare tactics to get what they want.

8 red flags to help spot a government impersonation scam.

“These scams often share common traits,” shared Garcia. Scammers might:

1. Demand immediate action or payment: “Legitimate agencies will give you time to respond to any request and will not pressure you for immediate payment,” said Garcia.
2. Use urgent and threatening language: Scammers use fear as a primary tool, threatening arrest, hefty fines or deportation if you don’t comply with their demands.
3. Tell you to lie: “A government agency will never suggest that you lie to your family, your bank or anyone else,” said Garcia.
4. Tell you that you need to move your money to a “secure” account in order to “protect” it: A government entity will never tell you that your money isn’t safe in your own bank account and you should never withdraw or transfer the balance to an unknown account or bitcoin ATM.
5. Tell you to use unusual payment methods: Scammers may request payment through unconventional methods like cash, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency because they are harder to trace and recover.
6. Request sensitive information: Government entities will not ask you to disclose personal information like your Social Security number, bank account details or other personal information to “verify” your identity.
7. Refuse to give proper identification: Genuine government officials will always provide proper identification that you can verify on a government website or by calling a published government agency phone number.
8. Use fake caller IDs and official-looking documents: Some fraudsters spoof phone numbers to make it look like the call is coming from a legitimate government agency, or send emails with official-looking logos and signatures. Do not take these as signs that the person contacting you is legitimate.

How to protect yourself from government impersonation scammers.

Protecting yourself from government impersonation scams involves being vigilant and taking proactive steps:

• Always verify the caller’s identity: If you receive a suspicious call or message, contact the supposed agency directly using official contact information found on their website. Do not use the contact information provided within the outreach, whether it’s a phone call, email, text message or other method of communication.
• Never provide personal information: Never give out personal or financial information over the phone or internet unless you are absolutely certain you’re dealing with a legitimate government representative.
• Never share verification codes you receive unexpectedly: “This could be a scammer attempting to access your accounts,” reported Garcia. “No legitimate caller, especially from an anti-fraud department or government agency, will ever ask you for a verification code.”
• Never grant remote access to your device: “This is another trick scammers use to gain access to your bank accounts and other personal information,” said Garcia.
• Keep your anti-virus software, operating system and web browsers up-to-date. And, don’t call a phone number or click any links in a pop-up notification, even to close the pop-up window. This can redirect you to a scam site or install malware on your device.
• Use two-factor authentication: Banks, government websites and sites storing any sensitive information offer two-factor authentication, a security process that requires two different forms of identification to verify your identity when logging into an account, typically combining something you know (like a password) with something sent to a device in your possession, like a code sent to your phone.
• Report suspicious activity: “If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam, it’s important to report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) link opens in a new window to the FTC website, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) link opens in a new window, your local authorities or the agency being impersonated,” said Garcia.
• Stay informed and educated: Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, so it’s important to stay informed about the latest scams link opens in a new window.
• Share information with friends and family on a regular basis to help keep them protected.

“It’s no longer trust, then verify. Now it’s verify, then double-verify,” said Garcia. “But if you follow the recommendations above and keep the red flags in mind, you’re far less likely to fall victim to these kinds of scams.”