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Government Impostor Scams: How to Spot Fake Social Security, IRS, and Medicare Calls

ByGene Castillo

The phone rings, and the caller says they’re from Social Security, the IRS, or Medicare. They sound official. They may even know your name and address. Then they say something alarming: your Social Security number has been “suspended,” you owe back taxes, or there’s a warrant out for your arrest.

This is a government impostor scam. These calls, texts, and emails are designed to frighten you into acting before you have time to think. Real agencies follow clear rules, and knowing them makes fakes easier to spot.

How These Scams Work

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), impostors pose as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the IRS, Medicare, the FTC itself, and other agencies. They reach out by phone, email, text, or social media. Some already know personal details about you.

The message almost always boils down to this: you owe money, or you’re about to lose a benefit, and you need to pay or share personal details right now. Caller ID may even show a real agency name, but the FTC notes that caller ID can be faked.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Threats of arrest, deportation, a lawsuit, or losing your license or benefits
  • Claims that your Social Security number has been “suspended” or is linked to a crime
  • Pressure to act immediately and to stay on the line
  • Requests for your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank details, or card numbers
  • Demands for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, payment app, or cash
  • Unexpected links or attachments in a text or email

The SSA says it will never ask for sensitive personal information by social media, email, or text. It also warns never to pay anyone claiming to be from a government agency with gift cards, gold or other precious metals, prepaid debit cards, crypto, wire or money transfers, or cash.

How Real Agencies Contact You

The IRS

The IRS generally reaches out first by mail. The FTC explains that the IRS calls only after you’ve set up an appointment, or after you’ve received letters about a debt. According to the IRS, it won’t demand immediate payment by gift card, prepaid card, or wire transfer, won’t threaten to have police arrest you, and won’t demand payment without giving you a chance to question or appeal what you owe.

Social Security

Social Security won’t ask for sensitive information through email, text, or social media, and it won’t charge you for forms or documents that are normally free, such as a replacement Social Security card.

Medicare

Medicare sends cards automatically at no cost and doesn’t ask you to pay for them, according to the FTC.

As a general rule, the FTC says no government agency will contact you out of the blue to ask for money or personal information.

How to Check Whether It’s Real

  1. Hang up, or don’t reply.
  2. Don’t call back the number they gave you or the one on your caller ID.
  3. Look up the agency’s number yourself, using a past letter, your card, or the agency’s official website.
  4. For tax questions, check your IRS online account or call the IRS at 800-829-1040. For Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
  5. For Social Security, sign in to your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your real status.
  6. If a message leaves you feeling rushed or upset, pause and talk it over with someone you trust.

What to Do If You Paid or Shared Information

Scammers are professionals, and they fool smart, careful people every day. If it happened to you, act quickly. The FTC suggests these steps:

  1. Gift card: Call the company that issued the card, using the number on the card. Tell them you were tricked into sharing the card number and PIN, and ask for a refund. Keep the card and the receipt.
  2. Wire transfer: Contact the wire company (such as Western Union or MoneyGram) right away, say it was a scam, and ask for a refund.
  3. Bank transfer or Zelle: Call your bank or credit union right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
  4. Payment app: Report it in the app immediately and ask for a reversal.
  5. Credit or debit card: Call the number on the back of your card and ask for a refund.
  6. Cryptocurrency: Contact the exchange or crypto ATM company immediately and report the transaction as fraud. Recovery is harder, but report it anyway.
  7. Cash sent by mail: Call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 right away. For FedEx or UPS, contact the carrier.
  8. Social Security number: Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. The SSA also suggests adding a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus.

Where to Report

  • Social Security impostors: the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.
  • IRS impostors: the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov or 800-366-4484.
  • All government impostor scams: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also contact your state attorney general.
  • If you’re 60 or older and want help reporting, call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. It’s free, it’s for people 60 and older, and a case manager can help you figure out where to report.
  • For a sympathetic ear and next steps, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. It offers free support and guidance, whether or not you’re an AARP member.

If money was stolen, the SSA also recommends reporting the crime to your local police. The Justice Department warns that scammers sometimes pose as hotline staff, so never give money or your Social Security number to such callers.

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