IRS / Government Impersonation

Fraudsters pose as IRS agents, Social Security Administration officials, Medicare representatives, or other government employees. They claim you owe back taxes, your Social Security number has been "suspended," or you must pay a fee to claim a benefit — and threaten arrest, deportation, or benefit termination if you do not comply immediately.

Warning Signs

A caller claims to be from the IRS or SSA and demands immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
You are threatened with arrest, license revocation, or deportation if you do not pay right now.
The caller says your Social Security number has been "suspended" or "compromised."
You receive an unexpected refund and are told to return part of it by purchasing gift cards.
The caller refuses to send written communication or insists the matter is too urgent for mail.

Immediate Steps

Hang up immediately. The IRS and SSA never initiate contact by phone demanding immediate payment.
Do not provide any personal information — Social Security number, bank account details, or payment card numbers.
Verify any claimed debt directly by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or SSA at 1-800-772-1213 using numbers you look up yourself.
Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General's hotline (1-800-366-4484) if an IRS impersonator is involved.
File a report with the FTC and your state attorney general's office.

Report & Get Help

AARP Fraud Helpline (free, confidential): 1-877-908-3360