April 12, 2022
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has received increased reports of scammers claiming to be with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or other federal agencies.
These scammers falsely represent themselves as FBI agents to obtain personal information or money. They may reach out via phone, text, or other messaging channels. They may threaten individuals with an arrest or freezing Social Security numbers. The scammer may also claim to need access to your computer to help catch a criminal.
We encourage the public to remain vigilant. Do not provide personally identifiable information (PII), such as a Social Security number, credit card or bank information; money; or access to a computer or phone to unknown persons.
If you receive a scam phone call or email, you may report it to the Federal Trade Commission online or by calling 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.IC3.gov for scams facilitated over the internet.
View the Federal Trade Commission's How to Spot, Stop, & Report Government Imposter Scams infographic for information on avoiding and responding to these scams.
If you are over the age of 60 and lost money as a part of a similar attempt, please contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline by calling 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).