How to tell a real government office from an impostor

Much of what our sites help with involves a government office somewhere: a county clerk for a marriage license, a court for jury duty, a health department for a well test, a city for a point-of-sale inspection. That's exactly why government impostors work. People expect to hear from these offices, and they're nervous about getting it wrong.

So here's the short version, then the details. A real government office will not call you out of the blue, threaten you, and demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app. If that's happening, it's a scam.

What the scam looks like

The FTC describes the pattern: someone contacts you claiming to be from an agency like the IRS, Social Security, Medicare or even the FTC. Sometimes they use an agency that doesn't exist at all, like a made-up "National Sweepstakes Bureau." They tell you something bad will happen if you don't pay or hand over personal information right now. Or they dangle a benefit you'll lose if you don't act.

Local versions are common too. The FTC lists jury duty scams (you missed jury duty and must pay a fine) and police or sheriff impersonators (pay a fine now or be arrested).

A newer twist, which the FTC flagged in 2024, is the layered scam. First a fake "bank" or "tech support" caller says your account is in trouble. Then they transfer you to a fake government official who'll supposedly help. That "official" tells you to move your money somewhere to protect it. There is no legitimate reason for that. The FTC is plain about it: nobody from the FTC will ever ask you to move money, or connect you with someone who does.

Tricks that make it convincing

Scammers know you'll be suspicious, so they come prepared. The FTC lists the props:

• Faked caller ID that shows a real agency's name or number.
• Employee ID or badge numbers, or the name of a real government employee.
• Official-looking letters with seals, and agency names that sound real but aren't.
• Partial personal details, like the last digits of your Social Security number, to seem legitimate.

None of these prove anything. Caller ID can be spoofed from anywhere in the world.

The versions you're most likely to hear

The FTC's imposter guidance lists the scripts that come up again and again. Knowing them ahead of time makes them easier to hang up on:

• IRS impersonators say you owe taxes and must pay immediately or be arrested.
• Social Security impersonators say your number has been suspended, or your benefits will stop, unless you pay or "verify" your information.
• Medicare callers claim to be calling about your benefits or a new card.
• FTC impersonators say your money is in danger and you need to move it to "protect it."
• Jury duty scammers say you missed jury service and must pay a fine to avoid a warrant.
• Police or sheriff impersonators say there's a warrant or fine and you can settle it over the phone.

The details change, but the shape is the same every time: a scary problem, a deadline, and a payment method that's hard to trace. The FTC points out that you have rights and legal protections even if you really do owe a debt or really did miss jury duty. A real office will put it in writing and give you a way to respond.

What real government offices don't do

Pull these from the FTC's guidance and keep them handy. Someone who actually works for the government won't:

• tell you to pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency;
• tell you to withdraw cash or buy gold and hand it to someone;
• tell you to keep the conversation secret or lie to your bank or family;
• tell you to move money out of your accounts to "protect" it.

If you hear any of those, you have your answer.

How to check if a contact is real

1. Stop and hang up. You're allowed to. Urgency is the scammer's main tool.
2. Find the agency's contact information yourself. The FTC suggests USA.gov as a starting point for federal agencies. For a local office, go to your county or city's official website.
3. Look for .gov. This is one of the most useful habits you can build. According to get.gov, which is run by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, .gov domains are only available to verified U.S.-based government organizations: federal, state, territorial, tribal, county, city, special districts and school districts. Anyone can buy a .com, .org or .us. So a site ending in .gov is a strong sign you're in the right place. A site that only looks official, but ends in something else, deserves a closer look.
4. Call back on a number you trust. Use the number from the agency's .gov site or from a letter you already know is real, never the number the caller gave you.
5. Don't click links in surprise texts or emails. The FTC says to delete them rather than click.

A quick note on that .gov tip: some legitimate local offices still use older non-.gov addresses. If you can't find a .gov site, call the main county or city number listed in your phone book or on a printed bill and ask.

What to do if you already paid or shared information

Move quickly. Contact your bank or card company right away, especially if you moved money or shared a verification code. If you shared your Social Security number, consider IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps. Then report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports help investigators spot patterns and warn other people.

Frequently asked questions

I really did miss jury duty. Will someone call me to pay a fine?

Courts handle missed jury service through official notices and the court itself, not through surprise phone calls demanding payment by gift card. If you're worried, look up your court's official site and call the jury office directly. Our sister site, Jury Duty Help, explains how summonses work.

The caller knew my address and part of my Social Security number. Doesn't that mean they're real?

No. The FTC warns that scammers may already know some of your information. Knowing it proves nothing about who they are.

Is a website safe just because it ends in .gov?

It's a strong signal, because .gov domains are only issued to verified government organizations. Still check that you're on the right agency's site before entering sensitive information.

Who should I tell?

Report government impostors to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you lost money, also contact your bank and local police.