On September 17, 2026, the FBI issued a public warning about scammers who pretend to be police officers or government officials. Between January 2025 and July 2026, its Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints about this kind of fraud, with losses of more than $1.6 billion. The FBI says criminals now use technology such as artificial intelligence, including video calls, to make the impersonation more convincing.
The one rule that protects you. Police and government agencies will never phone or text you to demand payment, according to the FBI. If a caller insists you must pay right now to avoid arrest, a fine or a lost license, it is a scam, however official they look or sound. Hang up.
What the stories sound like. The FBI's figures show a few common scripts:
- Missed jury duty or a court date. About 6,800 complaints and nearly $36 million lost. The caller says a warrant is out for you unless you pay a "fine."
- A problem with a medical license. About 3,300 complaints and more than $37 million lost, aimed at doctors and other medical professionals.
- A "foreign official." About 1,800 complaints and more than $140 million lost. This is the most elaborate version, and reports say it often targets international students and immigrant communities. According to The Register, some callers appear on video in a uniform or in a set made to look like a government office.
- A license renewal. About 500 complaints and a smaller $348,000 lost.
Is the caller a deepfake? Not necessarily. The FBI says AI is used to support the scheme, but the real trick is pressure and fear, not perfect technology. A uniform or an official-looking room on screen proves nothing. Judge the request, not the picture.
What to do if someone calls
- Don't pay, don't give personal details, and don't stay on the line. Never pay with prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, bank wires or cash at crypto kiosks. Real agencies don't ask for these.
- Ignore the phone number or website the caller gives you. Look up the agency's official number yourself and call back.
- Don't be rushed or told to keep it secret. Secrecy and urgency are the scammer's tools. Talk to a family member or friend.
- Check web addresses carefully. Fake sites copy real names with small changes.
If you already paid or shared details. Contact your bank or card company right away, tell your local police, and in the United States file a report at ic3.gov. Include the caller's details, how you paid and any messages. Outside the US, report to your local police.
For more on spotting fake voices and faces, see how to spot an AI voice on a phone call and how to spot a deepfake video. If the caller claims to be a relative, read the grandparent scam.
Sources
- Law Enforcement Impersonation Fraud Alert (I-091726-PSA) — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
- FBI: fake cop and government impersonation scams cost victims $1.6B — The Register