All common scams

Government impersonation: IRS, Social Security, police

Someone claims to be a government office or an officer, says you are in legal trouble and demands that you call or pay.

What it looks like

This is the Social Security Administration. Your number has been linked to a crime and a warrant will be issued for your arrest. Call +1 (202) 555-0145 immediately to speak with an officer. Do not hang up.

A made-up example. Real messages change the words, the names and the numbers.

The signs to look for

• It names a government agency out of the blue. Agencies usually write by post first, and they do not threaten you by phone or text.
• It threatens arrest, a warrant or a fine. The threat is there to make you panic.
• It demands that you act at once, and often tells you to stay on the line.
• It gives a number to call. The person who answers is the scammer, not an officer.

What they usually ask for next

1. They often claim to be a government office, a company or someone you know.
2. They usually warn of arrest, a fine or a closed account if you do not act.
3. They often ask for personal details to "confirm" who you are.
4. They may ask you to settle it with gift cards, crypto or a wire transfer.

If you already paid, gave access or gave a code

These are the same steps the tool shows after a check, in the same words.

1. Think back over the call. Was a code, a password, a card or account number or an ID number given to the caller, or did you agree to install anything or to pay? If so, update your answers above so the steps match what happened.
2. In the United States, if your Social Security number or other ID numbers were shared or used, report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov, typed in by you. It builds a recovery plan and a report you can show to banks and others. Elsewhere, look for your country's official identity-theft service.
3. In the United States, place a free credit freeze with each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A freeze at one bureau does not apply to the others, so do all three, each through its own official website that you type yourself. Keep the PIN or login each one gives you. A freeze can be lifted when you need credit.
4. Contact your bank, card company, or payment provider right away, by phone or in their official app, using a number from your card or statement. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or disputed. That depends on the payment type and the timing, and an outcome can't be promised. Phone is usually the fastest first move. Going to a local branch (a later step) is the follow-up, not a replacement.

These steps are general guidance. They have not yet been reviewed by the organizations named, and agencies, deadlines and rules differ by country, so use your own government's official website to find the right office. We can't tell whether any step will help in your case.

This is general information, not legal, financial or investigative advice. We can't promise any money will come back.

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