FBI Impersonation Scam: Fake Agents Spoof Real Office Numbers and Stage Video Calls

The FBI is warning Americans about a dangerous new twist on an old scam: criminals are posing as FBI, DEA, and Secret Service agents, spoofing the real phone numbers of federal field offices, and even staging fake video calls that look like they come from a government office. Anyone can be targeted, and the losses are already enormous.

In a warning issued on November 2, 2026, FBI Honolulu described a concerning variation of the long-running law enforcement impersonation scheme. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods that make it hard for people to tell whether a call or message is real. The warning matters far beyond Hawaii, because the same scripts are being used across the country.

The scale of the problem is staggering. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received nearly 61,000 complaints about scammers posing as police or government officials between January 2025 and July 2026, with reported losses of more than $1.6 billion. That is why the FBI is urging the public to learn the warning signs before the phone rings.

How the scam works

The scam usually starts with an unexpected call, text, or video call from someone claiming to be a federal agent. The caller may use the name of a real agent or invent one, and they often claim you are in serious trouble: your identity was used in a crime, your bank account is linked to fraud, or a warrant has been issued in your name.

The pressure builds fast. The caller may transfer you to a "supervisor" or a fake police officer who threatens arrest unless you act immediately. The goal is always the same: get you to send money or hand over personal information before you have time to think or check.

What makes this version harder to spot is the technology behind it. Scammers spoof the official phone numbers of federal law enforcement field offices, so the number on your caller ID can look completely genuine. If you try to call the number back, the spoofed line may even mislead you into believing you are speaking with a real representative. In one recent report, a scammer went further and appeared on a virtual meeting platform with a background staged to look like a federal office, complete with official-looking decor and a person dressed in business attire.

The payment demands are another giveaway. Victims are told to pay with prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or even cash handed to a courier. These payment methods are nearly impossible to reverse, which is exactly why scammers insist on them.

Warning signs

Watch for these red flags. A real federal agent will never call or text you to demand money, threaten you with arrest over the phone, or ask for your personal information. No government agency will ask you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a courier pickup. An urgent threat that you must act right now, without time to verify anything, is a classic pressure tactic.

Be suspicious of any caller who asks you to keep the conversation secret, tells you not to contact your bank or a lawyer, or sends you links to webpages that look almost like an official government site but use a slightly different address, such as .com instead of .gov. And remember that caller ID proves nothing: scammers can make any number appear on your screen.

What to do if it reaches you

If you get one of these calls, hang up. Do not send money, transfer funds, or share personal information with anyone claiming to be a federal law enforcement officer. Do not click links they send you, and do not stay on a video call with them.

If you want to check whether the contact was real, look up the agency's publicly listed phone number yourself — never use a number the caller gave you — and call it to ask whether an agent is actually trying to reach you. Tell the person who answers that you may be the target of a scam and want to verify the contact. Ask for credentials and verify them through official, publicly available information.

If a scammer contacts you over a video meeting, capture screenshots or video when possible. You can submit them through the FBI's tip site at tips.fbi.gov, or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) to speak with a verified FBI representative.

If you already sent money or shared information, act quickly. Stop all contact with the scammer, notify your bank or financial institution right away so they can try to protect your accounts, and contact your local law enforcement agency to file a report.

How to report it

Report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov, including screenshots and any details of your interaction. Reporting helps investigators track new versions of the scheme and warn others before they lose money. You can also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The simplest rule to remember is the FBI's own: law enforcement and government agencies will never call or text you to demand payment or ask for personal information. If someone does, it is a scam — no matter how official the number on your screen looks.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), "FBI Honolulu Issues Warning About Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam Targeting Hawaii Residents," November 2, 2026; FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center Public Service Announcement I-091726-PSA, September 17, 2026.