FTC Warns of New Government Impersonation Scam
Scammers posing as FTC agents claim victims' phone numbers are tied to fraud abroad and pressure them to pay.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The Federal Trade Commission warned consumers about a new government impersonation scam in which callers pose as FTC agents. Victims are told their phone numbers are being used in scams in another country and are transferred to a fake police officer.
Why it matters
Americans lost about $920 million last year to government impersonation schemes, and the warning aims to help residents recognize these calls before they pay money or share personal information.
The FTC has issued a public warning rather than announcing charges, and the extraction does not identify any suspects or pending court dates. Suspected scams can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
The players
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is the U.S. agency that enforces consumer protection and antitrust laws and has issued warnings about government impersonation fraud.
The details
Scammers call victims while posing as FTC agents and claim the victim's phone number is being used in scams in another country. They read a fake badge number, transfer the victim to a fake police officer to file a report, and then request personal information while demanding payment to avoid trouble.
Timeline
Last year: Americans lost about $920 million to government impersonation schemes.
November 2, 2026: The FTC published its warning about the new impersonation scam.
Legal Context
Government impersonation has been one of the FTC's tracked fraud categories, with losses reaching about $920 million last year. This new variant shows scammers adapting their pretext by invoking the agency itself and the threat of cross-border scam involvement.
Residents should not send money or share personal information after receiving an unexpected call claiming to be from the FTC or another agency. Real FTC employees never ask for payment, threaten to disconnect a phone, or text an ID photo to verify identity.
The takeaway
Hang up on any caller who demands payment or secrecy, then contact the agency directly using a verified number. Legitimate FTC staff will not ask you to send money or confirm your identity by text.
Further reading
Explore more financial crime coverage to see how impersonation scams fit into the broader fraud landscape.
More information
Report suspected scams through the FTC fraud reporting portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox 59.
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