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identity theft scams
Government impostor scams are highly prevalent and pose a significant threat to consumers and businesses.
Fraudsters pose as officials from agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, CRA, Service Canada or law enforcement to obtain personal information, money or access to sensitive accounts.
who they pretend to be
Reported in the U.S.
Social Security impostors
Several consumers have reported to receiving calls and being told that their social security number or social insurance number is being suspended because illegal activity, including money laundering, has been tied to their account.
Reported in the U.S.
IRS impostors
Scammers are impersonating the IRS to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information, claiming they’re eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check. These fraudulent messages often look official, but they’re part of a phishing scheme designed to steal your sensitive data.
Reported in Canada
CRA and Service Canada
BBB is warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious calls and emails that claim to be from the CRA or Service Canada. Consumers often report being told that there is illegal or suspicious activity associated with their social insurance number.
Reported in the U.S.
FEMA impostors
BBB is warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious correspondences that claim to be from The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Reported in the U.S. and Canada
Law enforcement impostors
You receive a telephone call, email, text message, or a message on social media by someone alleging to be from a law enforcement agency. Scammers claim to represent agencies ranging from the local police to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to Canada Border Services.
Reported in the U.S. and Canada
Fake veteran grant programs
As a veteran, navigating government programs and benefits is complicated. Scammers know this – and take full advantage of it. BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous reports of con artists who pretend to represent the government and target veterans with promises of special grants and other programs.
Reported in the U.S. and Canada
Government grant scams
This scam promises you free money in the form of a government grant. All you have to do is pay a fee. You are told that your application is guaranteed to be accepted, and you will never have to repay the money. You can use the "grant" to pay bills, make repairs, or pay education costs.
Reported in the U.S. and Canada
Fake visa notices
You receive an email that looks like it’s from the U.S. Department of State or the Immigration Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that looks or sounds official and claims that you are under investigation or owe money.
Reported in the U.S.
Fake toll notices
Fraudsters impersonate toll collection services, trying to trick consumers into paying for fake outstanding tolls.You receive a text message from what appears to be a state tollway collection service.
Reported in the U.S.
Statute violation notices
You receive a letter in the mail that claims to come from a court or law enforcement agency. Scammers combine personal information collected from data breaches with official looking seals and watermarks to make the correspondence seem legitimate.
Reported in the U.S.
SAM.gov registration fees
BBB is warning people to be on the lookout for third-party companies offering vendors help with their SAM.gov registrations and renewals for a hefty fee.
Reported in the U.S.
IRS impostors for businesses
Scammers are impersonating the IRS to trick new business owners into paying for Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) although it is free to get one.
stay safe
Verify with the agency
If someone claims to be from a government agency, contact the agency using its official website or phone number. Never use the contact information provided by the caller or emailer.
Know how agencies operate
Legitimate agencies such as the IRS, SSA, CRA and Service Canada won’t demand immediate payment, threaten arrest or ask for sensitive information by phone, email or text.
Beware unusual payments
Requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps are a clear sign of a scam.
Protect your personal info
Don’t share details like your Social Security or Social Insurance number, bank information or passwords unless you initiated contact with a verified agency.
Check email extensions
Official government email usually ends in “.gov” or “.mil” in the U.S. and “.gc.ca” in Canada. Messages from Gmail, Yahoo, or similar domains claiming to be government-related are scams.
report scams immediately
Report any suspicious contact, even if you didn’t lose money. Your report can help warn others.
