Printed from voicescam.com/scams/official-impersonation-calls/ · Updated 23 October 2026
Calls impersonating police, courts and tax officials
A caller claiming to be the police, a court, an immigration office or the tax authority says you owe money or face arrest, and must pay today. Real officials do not demand immediate payment by phone. Hang up and call the agency on a number from its official website.
Do this now
- Hang up. Threats of arrest on a phone call are a scam tactic.
- Look up the agency's number yourself on its official website or a letter you trust.
- Never pay by gift card, crypto, wire or cash. The FTC says government agencies never demand payment by gift card.
- Do not give ID or account numbers to anyone who called you.
Common stories
- You missed jury duty and there is a warrant for your arrest.
- You owe back taxes and will be arrested today.
- Your benefits or pension will be stopped unless you "verify" details.
- There is a problem with your visa or immigration status.
- A package in your name was found with illegal items in it.
How common it is
In the US, reported losses to government impostor scams rose by $171 million to $789 million in 2024 (FTC, 2025). Impostor scams of all kinds were the most commonly reported type of fraud.
Warning signs
- Threats of arrest or deportation if you do not pay immediately.
- You are told to stay on the line while you go to a shop or bank.
- Payment by gift card, crypto, wire or cash. Real agencies send bills and accept normal payments.
- They know your ID number. Leaked data makes this easy. It is not proof.
What real agencies do
| What the caller says | How real agencies work |
|---|---|
| "Pay now or be arrested today" | Send letters first and give you time to respond |
| "Pay with gift cards or crypto" | Accept payment only through official, traceable channels |
| "Do not hang up or tell anyone" | Are happy for you to hang up and call back |
| "An officer will collect the money" | Never send someone to collect cash |
If you paid or shared details
- Contact the company you paid through and ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
- If you gave an ID number, contact the agency that issued it and ask about fraud protection.
- Report it to the police and your national fraud service.
See what to do if you were scammed.
How to warn older relatives about these calls
Fake official calls often reach people who live alone and respect authority. A short, calm conversation before a call comes is the best protection.
- Explain the script. A threat of arrest, a demand to pay today and an unusual payment method. Together they mean a scam.
- Give them a line to say. "I will call your office back on the number from your website." Then hang up.
- Write down the real numbers. Keep the tax office, the local police non-emergency line and their bank by the phone.
- Agree they will call you first. Before paying any official who phoned them, they ring a family member.
- Make it safe to tell you. Nobody will be angry if they hang up on a real call by mistake.
Some of these calls use a recorded message, and a call about a relative who has "been arrested" may use a copied voice. You do not need to judge the voice yourself. If you have a voicemail and want a second opinion, you can compare AI voice detectors, but calling the agency back on a number you looked up is still the check that matters.
If the "officer" says a grandchild is in custody, read about the grandparent scam and its fake bail calls. If the caller says your bank account is at risk and hands you to a "bank investigator", our guide to the fake bank fraud team call shows how that handover works. You can also browse all the voice scam guides.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, press release: "New FTC data show a big jump in reported losses to fraud to $12.5 billion in 2024". Published March 2025. Checked 23 October 2026.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, public service announcement: "Criminals use generative artificial intelligence to facilitate financial fraud". Published 3 December 2024. Checked 23 October 2026.
Common questions
Can the police call to say there is a warrant?
A call demanding payment to cancel a warrant is a scam: the FTC warns about calls threatening arrest over missed jury duty. If you are worried, hang up and call your local police on their non-emergency number.
The caller knew my ID number. Does that make it real?
No. ID numbers are exposed in data breaches all the time. Hang up and contact the agency directly.
What if they threaten to come to my house?
That is a pressure tactic. Hang up. If you feel unsafe, call your local emergency number.
Who do I report it to?
Your national fraud reporting service, and the real agency that was impersonated. See how to report a scam call.
