Fake IRS, Social Security and FBI Calls: How Impersonation Scams Start

An older Black man in a brown cardigan stands stiffly in his narrow hallway answering a wall-mounted phone, eyes wide and serious, other hand on his chest.

Your phone rings. The caller ID says "Social Security Administration." The voice is calm and professional. It says your Social Security number has been linked to criminal activity and you need to act today to protect your benefits.

Victims reported nearly 32,500 of these calls to the FBI in 2025, with losses close to $800 million. That is almost double the year before.^[1]^[2] In this module you will learn how these scams work, why they feel convincing, and the one rule that applies every time: no real organization will ever ask you to pay using a crypto ATM, gift cards, or a wire transfer under pressure.