In short: Social Security, the IRS and Medicare will not call to threaten you, suspend your number or demand payment by gift card. If a caller says they are from the government and pushes you to pay or move money, hang up. Then call the agency yourself on a number you look up.
The call that sounds official
Your phone rings, and the caller ID says “Social Security Administration.” A calm, professional voice says your Social Security number has been linked to a crime. Unless you act right away, the caller says, your number will be suspended today.
Calls like this are called government impostor scams. A scammer pretends to work for an agency you trust, such as Social Security, the IRS or Medicare. It works because most of us take official calls seriously and don’t want to get in trouble.
These scams are not new, but artificial intelligence, or AI, is making them more convincing. In December 2024, the FBI warned that criminals are using AI to create fake badges and official-looking documents. Some even appear as police officers or other officials on live video calls. A polished letter, an official-sounding voice or a uniform on your screen is no longer proof that someone is real.
How the scam usually works
Here is a made-up example to show how the clues fit together. It isn’t a real case.
The caller gives you a badge number and emails you an official-looking letter to prove who they are. Then the story changes. To “protect” your savings, the caller says, you need to move your money to a safe government account. Or you are told to buy gift cards, or to take out cash for a courier to collect. You are told not to tell anyone, because the investigation is confidential.
Every part of that call is designed to make you panic and act alone. Fortunately, every part of it also contains a clue that gives the scammer away.
Warning signs
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), real government agencies don’t work this way. Watch for these warning signs:
- A threat that your Social Security number will be suspended, or that you will be arrested. The FTC says Social Security won’t threaten you or suspend your number.
- A demand to pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app. The FTC says government agencies will never demand payment these ways.
- A request to move your money to “protect” it. The FTC warns that government workers will never tell you to move money for safekeeping or to hand over cash or gold.
- A surprise call about your taxes. If you owe taxes, the IRS usually contacts you by mail first. The FTC says it won’t call about your taxes unless you have set up an appointment.
- A call or text offering a “new” Medicare card for a fee. Medicare mails your card automatically, at no cost.
- Pressure to keep the conversation secret from your family, your bank or anyone else.
What to do if you get a call like this
- Hang up. You don’t have to stay on the line or be polite to someone who is pressuring you.
- Don’t trust the caller ID. The FTC warns that it can be faked to show an agency’s real name or number.
- Don’t call back the number the caller gave you. Look up the agency’s number yourself, or use one from an official letter or website you know is real.
- Never share your Social Security, Medicare or bank account numbers with someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
- Tell someone you trust before you move any money, even if the caller insists on secrecy.
If you are not sure whether a call about Medicare was real, the FTC suggests hanging up and calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to check. For questions about your taxes, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
Why these calls feel so real
Scammers work hard to sound like real agencies. They use the agency’s real name, official-sounding titles and formal language, so the call feels like it came from an office you know.
They also use your own feelings against you. Fear of losing your benefits, or of being in trouble with the law, makes it hard to think clearly. That is why the best defense is a simple rule you decide on ahead of time: you hang up and check for yourself.
A closer look at Medicare scams
Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Scammers often take advantage of the extra calls and mail during those weeks. The FTC warns that some impostors say you need a “new” Medicare card. Others ask for your Medicare number to settle a claim for medical equipment you don’t remember.
Medicare won’t unexpectedly call, text or email you to ask for your Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers. If someone does, treat it as a warning sign and check by calling 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
How to protect yourself ahead of time
- Save the real phone numbers for Social Security, the IRS and Medicare in your contacts. Then you never have to rely on a number a caller gives you.
- Make a simple promise to yourself: whenever someone calls asking for money or personal information, you will hang up and call back on a number you already trust.
- Talk with a family member or friend about these calls, so you both know the warning signs and can check with each other.
- Keep official letters from agencies in one place, so you can compare any new letter with a real one.
- Write down the date, the number that called and what the caller said. A short note helps if you decide to report the call later.
Questions people often ask
What if the caller already knows my Social Security number?
Scammers sometimes have pieces of your information from data breaches. A caller who knows your number isn’t proving they are legitimate, so hang up and contact the agency yourself.
Will I get in trouble if I hang up on a real agency?
No. A real agency will understand that you are being careful, and it will have other ways to reach you, usually by mail.
What about official-looking letters and emails?
Scammers send those too, and the FBI warns that AI can now create convincing fake documents. Don’t use the phone number, link or email address in the message. Instead, contact the agency through its official website or a number you look up yourself.
If you already paid or shared information
- Contact your bank or card company right away and explain what happened. The sooner you act, the better your chances of stopping the payment.
- If you shared your Social Security number or other personal details, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step recovery plan.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it involved Medicare, you can also report it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Be wary of anyone who calls later offering to help you get your money back for a fee. The FTC warns that these “recovery” offers are often a second scam aimed at people who have already lost money.
You did nothing wrong. These scams are designed to fool caring, careful people. Talking about them openly is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the people you love.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, “How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam” (consumer guide). Federal Trade Commission, consumer alert on Medicare open enrollment scams (November 2024). Federal Trade Commission, “How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams” (consumer guide). FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, public service announcement I-120324-PSA (December 3, 2024). Federal Trade Commission, consumer alert on recovery scams (August 3, 2026).
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