Calls from fake officers demanding payment to clear a crime
FBI Internet Crime Complaint CenterNationwide
On September 17, 2026, the FBI updated a warning about scammers who impersonate U.S. or foreign law enforcement and government officials. Between January 2025 and July 2026, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of this kind, with reported losses of more than $1.6 billion.
Most contact starts with an unsolicited phone call. Texts and emails are used as well. Callers spoof real phone numbers, email addresses, employee names, and credentials, including IC3's. They use an urgent tone, refuse to leave a message with anyone else, keep people on the line, and say not to tell family, a bank, or the police. Payment demands include prepaid cards, couriers, bank wires, cryptocurrency, and cash placed into a cryptocurrency kiosk. Common stories include a crime you supposedly committed, missed jury duty or a missed court date, an expiring passport or license, and threats aimed at specific professions or communities. In the same period, the FBI said jury-duty and missed-court complaints alone numbered 6,833, with losses of nearly $36 million. Artificial intelligence is also used so a caller can appear on video as an official.
Red flags
- An unexpected call, text, or email accuses you of a crime, missed jury duty, or an expired license and demands payment.
- The caller insists you stay on the line and not tell anyone else.
- Payment is requested by prepaid card, courier, wire, cryptocurrency, or cash at a cryptocurrency kiosk.
- The caller ID, email, or a video call looks official. The FBI says those details are often spoofed, including with AI video.
How to protect yourself
- The FBI says law enforcement and government offices will not call or text the public to demand payment or sensitive information.
- They will not ask for prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or a courier.
- If someone offers credentials, look up the agency yourself and call a publicly listed number. Do not use the number, email, or link the caller gave you.
- Check that any web address really ends in the agency's official domain. Small spelling changes and a .com where a .gov belongs are a warning.
If you are hit
- Stop contacting the caller and tell your financial institutions so they can protect the accounts.
- File a report with local law enforcement and a complaint at ic3.gov
- Include phone numbers, email addresses, payment details, cryptocurrency addresses if any, and copies of texts or emails. Keep the records.
Questions
Is Calls from fake officers demanding payment to clear a crime a scam?
On September 17, 2026, the FBI updated a warning about scammers who impersonate U.S. or foreign law enforcement and government officials. Between January 2025 and July 2026, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of this kind, with reported losses of more than $1.6 billion. This page summarizes a public warning from FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center dated September 17, 2026. The linked source is the record.
What should I do if I fell for it?
Stop contacting the caller and tell your financial institutions so they can protect the accounts. File a report with local law enforcement and a complaint at https://www.ic3.gov. Include phone numbers, email addresses, payment details, cryptocurrency addresses if any, and copies of texts or emails. Keep the records.
Sources
- Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud SchemesFBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
This summary is informational and not legal advice. If it and the linked source disagree, follow the source.
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