FBI Warns of Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams: What They Are + How to Protect Yourself

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a September 2026 public service announcement warning of a rise in government and law enforcement impersonation scams. These scams feature individuals posing as law enforcement agents leveraging threats to acquire money or personal information.

Between January 2025 and July 2026, the IC3 received nearly 61,000 complaints regarding fraudsters posing as local police, federal agents, or court officials, with reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion. Imposters use caller ID spoofing and legal threats to extract immediate payments and sensitive personal information from their targets.

How Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams Work

Law enforcement impersonation scams rely on scammers projecting authority and manufacturing urgency. Their goal is to drive you to act before you can verify the caller’s identity.

According to the IC3, fraudsters use caller ID spoofing technology to make your phone screen display the legitimate name and telephone number of a law enforcement agency or court. They build credibility by providing fake badge numbers, official-sounding department names, and fictitious case file numbers.

During these law enforcement imposter scams, callers may claim that you missed jury duty, owe outstanding court fines, face an active arrest warrant, or have a suspended driver’s license or passport. The fraudster insists that you resolve the issue immediately over the phone or online. They demand payment via non-traditional methods, including prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or physical cash couriers. Scammers frequently follow up with text messages or emails containing links to fake government portals designed to capture payment details and login credentials.

Impersonation Scam Warning Signs and Red Flags

If you receive a call from police, local courts, or federal agencies, watch for these warning signs that you could be dealing with a scam:

• Demands for immediate payment over the phone: Legitimate law enforcement officers and court clerks will not call demanding instant payment to clear a warrant or missed jury duty summons.
• Requirements for non-standard payment methods: Requests for payment via prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency, bank wire transfers, or physical cash couriers indicate a scam.
• Threats of immediate arrest or legal action: Imposters use aggressive tones to force rapid payment before you can verify their credentials through official sources.
• Unsolicited links in text messages or emails: Follow-up messages directing you to online payment or verification portals are designed to capture personal credentials or payment details.
• Requests for sensitive personal identifiers: Scammers ask for Social Security numbers, banking details, or account passwords under the pretense of “verifying” your record.

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How to Protect Yourself From Impersonation Scams

1. Hang up and verify through official channels. Immediately disconnect if you receive a suspicious call from police or court officials. Look up the agency’s official telephone number on a public .gov website and call directly to verify claims.
2. Recognize how legitimate agencies operate. Real law enforcement officers, courts, and government agencies do not demand payment over the phone, nor do they accept gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash couriers.
3. Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages. Do not click unsolicited links or download attachments in emails or text messages claiming to come from court or police portals. Type official website addresses directly into your web browser.
4. Limit public personal information. Fraudsters collect names, home addresses, and family details from social media and data broker websites to make fake scripts sound authentic. Adjust your privacy settings and submit removal requests to public data broker directories.

What to Do If You’ve Already Been Targeted

• Stop all communication immediately: Cease interacting with the scammer immediately and do not send additional money.
• Contact financial institutions: Call your bank, credit card issuer, or payment app provider right away to report the fraud and request a payment reversal or wire recall.
• Secure online accounts: Change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on all financial and email accounts that may have been exposed.
• Freeze your credit: Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to freeze your credit files and prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.
• Report identity theft: If you shared sensitive identifiers like your Social Security number, submit a report to the FTC to get a recovery plan.
• Maintain evidence: Retain all call logs, text messages, emails, payment receipts, and cryptocurrency transaction details.

Reporting Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams

Reporting an impersonation incident promptly helps authorities track fraudulent networks and protects others from falling victim. If you encounter a fake call from police or a fraudulent court notice, submit an official report through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

You should also contact your local police department to file a report, particularly if you experienced financial loss or received direct threats. Finally, inform the specific agency or court that was impersonated by calling the official directory number listed on its .gov website, allowing their security officials to issue public advisories.