AI Scam Library
Government impostor scams Social Security, the IRS, Medicare.
By Jake Geise, founder of VUYSE · Updated October 2026 · Sources below
A caller says they’re from Social Security, the IRS or Medicare. Your number is “suspended,” you owe taxes, or your benefits are at risk. They may already know personal details about you. Real agencies don’t threaten you, rush you, or ask for gift cards or crypto.
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How it works
- The call, text or email looks official, sometimes with a real-looking badge number or caller ID.
- They say there’s a problem: a suspended Social Security number, unpaid taxes, a new Medicare card, a crime tied to your name.
- They create panic, then offer a fix: pay now, verify your number, or move your money to “protect it.”
- Some send a courier to collect cash or gold, or tell you to keep it secret from your bank.
Warning signs
- Threats of arrest, suspension or losing benefits
- Demands for payment by gift card, wire, crypto or cash
- Being told to keep it secret or not to tell your bank
- A request for your Social Security or Medicare number
- An offer to “protect” your money by moving it
What to do
- Hang up. Don’t press buttons or call back numbers they give you.
- Call the agency yourself on its official number: Social Security 1-800-772-1213, Medicare 1-800-633-4227.
- Share your Medicare number only with your doctor and trusted helpers.
- Never move money or pay a government agency with gift cards or crypto.
New scams like this appear every week. Get the free 7-Day Kickstart and weekly Scam Watch alerts →
Social Security’s own words: it will never threaten, scare, or pressure you. SSA OIG
$413 million
Reported lost to government impersonators by older Americans in 2025.
Source: FBI: 2025 Internet Crime ReportIf you already paid or clicked
Call your bank right away. Report Social Security scams at oig.ssa.gov/report, IRS scams to TIGTA at 800-366-4484, and Medicare fraud at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
It’s not your fault. These are professionals, and they fool smart people every day. Acting fast is what matters.
Where to report it
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov: the Federal Trade Commission
- ic3.gov: the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, whatever the amount lost
Need help? Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11), or the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360.
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