Government impostor scams in the US

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.

The real IRS has announced that automatic payments will be issued to eligible taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. These payments require no action from taxpayers and will be sent automatically by late January 2025. Eligible individuals will also receive a letter from the IRS confirming the payment. This process only applies to taxpayers who filed a 2021 tax return but didn’t claim the credit to which they were entitled.

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Scammers are impersonating the IRS to trick new business owners into paying for Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) although it is free to get one.

An EIN is often required to open a small business, nonprofit, or organization, or to establish an estate after the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this process by creating "look-alike" websites and emails that closely resemble the IRS. They’re targeting businesses and consumers, claiming to sell EINs for a small fee. These scammers collect your personal information, charge your credit card, and then send you a fake EIN.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning businesses about these scams, which have been reported multiple times on the BBB Scam Tracker.

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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. 

You receive an email from what appears to be a SAM.gov representative stating that your registration is set to expire sometime soon. You are threatened with delaying or losing business funding or even at risk of having your registration deleted within the system. You are instructed to update your information immediately using a link and a unique case code provided in the correspondence. If you follow the link, you'll be taken to a third-party registration center website claiming to help businesses that do business with the federal government and prompted to pay the third-party for your renewal.

SAM.gov is a free US government registry for vendors doing business with the government. Never pay a company for this service.

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BBB is warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious correspondences that claim to be from The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is a U.S. government agency that aids citizens in disaster recovery efforts. Unfortunately, scammers use this as a chance to steal personal information from unsuspecting and stressed people. 

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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.The letter informs you that you have violated federal or state statutes and offers you two choices: cooperate as a witness or face indictment for serious crimes. Unfortunately, choosing to cooperate as a witness requires you to pay thousands of dollars in “legal fees.” Con artists use scare tactics, threatening you with jail time or other serious consequences if you don’t pay up. The more you engage with these scammers, the more aggressive they may become.

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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.

These impostors tell you there is a problem that you need to resolve immediately—usually by sending them a fee. In one recent version of this scam, the impostor claims to have seized a package with your name on it. Now, they need a copy of your driver’s license and money to fix the issue. Scammers often threaten fines, arrest, or other penalties in an attempt to scare you into immediate action.

Here's the new twist! If you are hesitant, the scammers will offer to text or email doctored credentials to you, to confirm their identity. The badge is either stolen or has been edited to include a different name. But no matter how convincing the “badge” or the impostor’s story may be, always do your research before acting. If you send these scammers money, they will disappear, and you won’t be able to get it back.

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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. All you must do is pay a one-time processing fee, typically through a pre-paid debit card or digital wallet app, which is harder to trace.

If you pay the "processing fee," scammers will likely come up with believable reasons for you to pay a second fee and a third, all so you can get an even larger "grant." Unfortunately, the money doesn't exist, and you will lose anything you pay them forever.

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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, like the Illinois Tollway or the Florida Turnpike (Sunpass). The text message says you owe a road toll fee of $11.69 or around $12, but you need to pay it immediately to avoid a late fee of $50. Other variations are the Ohio Turnpike for $7.60 or even $97.50, with a $150 penalty, and Texas Toll for $7.79. 

The message includes a link to settle your balance, which appears to be from the state’s toll service, making the message look legitimate. However, if you click the link, you may notice they are asking for sensitive personal information, like your Social Security number. If you proceed and provide your personal and payment information on the website, scammers could now have access to that information, and you may have lost some money.

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You receive an email that looks like it’s from the U.S. Department of State. It looks official, and even includes the U.S. seal. The message declares that you’ve won the “green card lottery,” a U.S. government program, officially known as the Diversity Visa Program, which grants 50,000 visas a year to individuals from selected countries.  According to the email, you now qualify for a United States visa. To get it, all you need to do is download a form, complete it, and reply with a photo and copy of your passport. 

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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.

When you reply to the ad or take the bait on the phone, the scammer claims to be a “government agent.” The con artist congratulates you on being eligible for the grant and asks for a one-time “processing fee.” Other fees will inevitably follow, and they may all seem very official. Whatever the story, one thing is certain; you will never see the money.

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