The FTC is not calling you; it’s likely an impersonation scam

Your phone rings, and the caller ID says “Federal Trade Commission.” The person on the other end sounds professional, seems to know who you are and claims that your identity has been stolen.

Or perhaps they say they’ve recovered the thousands of dollars that you lost in a previous scam. You just need to verify your information or pay a small processing fee.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has repeatedly warned that criminals are impersonating the agency to steal money, financial information and personal data. By spoofing government phone numbers, using the names of real FTC employees and inventing urgent scenarios, criminals convince victims they’re speaking with a real federal official.

Key takeaways

• Criminals are impersonating the FTC through phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media.
• Scammers often spoof official-looking phone numbers and use the names of real FTC employees or officials.
• The FTC never asks consumers to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gold.
• Recovery scams claiming the FTC has recovered your lost money are fraudulent if they require an upfront payment.
• Hanging up and contacting the FTC independently remain the safest ways to verify unexpected communications.

What is the FTC impersonation scam?

The FTC impersonation scam is a government impersonation scam in which cybercriminals pose as U.S. Federal Trade Commission representatives to persuade victims to send money or disclose sensitive personal information.

The scam usually begins with an unsolicited phone call, although criminals could also send emails, text messages, or make contact via social media. The callers introduce themselves as an FTC investigator, fraud specialist or some other official-sounding government official before presenting an urgent problem that needs to be solved urgently.

The story can change from victim to victim. Some people are told their identity has been stolen or their bank account has been compromised. Others hear that investigators recovered money they previously lost to fraud. No matter the scenario they employ, the goal is always the same: to manipulate victims into making bad financial decisions quickly before they have time to verify the claims.

Why scammers pretend to be the FTC

Government agencies naturally command public trust.

The FTC protects consumers from deceptive business practices and investigates fraud, making it an ideal organization for criminals to impersonate. Many victims assume someone claiming to represent the agency must be legitimate, especially when the caller already knows their name, address or other personal details.

Ironically, these types of details are likely to stem from previous data breaches, and these scammers are among the many criminals who have found ways to use this personal information.

Caller ID spoofing makes the deception even more convincing. Fraudsters can manipulate the Caller ID so that incoming calls appear to originate from the FTC. Although the display looks authentic, the caller ID isn’t proof that the call is genuine.

Official FTC warnings confirm the scam

The FTC has repeatedly warned consumers that criminals are actively impersonating the agency, and the fraud continues to evolve.

In March 2024, the FTC issued a public warning after learning that scammers were posing as agency employees and even using the names of real FTC staff members to gain credibility. The agency stressed that fraudsters were contacting consumers to steal money and sensitive financial information.

In February 2025, the FTC warned that criminals were impersonating senior agency officials, including FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. Victims reported receiving calls and messages claiming these officials were overseeing investigations or helping recover stolen funds.

These warnings reflect a broader trend. The FTC says impersonation scams are the most commonly reported type of fraud, with consumers reporting nearly $3 billion in losses to impersonators during 2024 alone. The FBI has also warned that government impersonation scams continue to cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

How fake FTC calls work

Although scammers constantly change their stories and hooks, the overall playbook rarely changes.

The caller begins by delivering alarming news. They claim criminals have opened financial accounts in your name, your Social Security Number appears in a federal investigation or suspicious activity has been detected in your bank account.

Sometimes the conversation takes the opposite approach. Rather than announcing bad news, the scammer claims the FTC has recovered money you lost in a previous investment scam.

After gaining the victim’s attention, the caller creates a sense of urgency. They insist that waiting, even for a few hours, could result in frozen assets, additional financial losses or the disappearance of recovered funds.

Finally, the caller requests money or sensitive information. Victims are sometimes instructed to transfer funds into a supposedly secure government account, purchase gift cards, buy gold, send cryptocurrency, provide online banking credentials or install remote access software.

How to recognize an FTC scam call

The most reliable warning signs appear in the caller’s behavior rather than the phone number displayed on your screen.

Real government employees don’t pressure consumers into making immediate financial decisions, discourage them from seeking advice, or insist conversations remain confidential. Scammers routinely use those tactics because they reduce the likelihood that victims will seek to verify the claims.

Requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, gold purchases, banking passwords, one-time verification codes, or remote access to your computer should immediately raise suspicion. None of these payment methods or requests align with how the FTC conducts business.

Likewise, don’t assume a caller is genuine simply because they know personal details about you. Information exposed in previous data breaches or available through public records often gives scammers enough background to make their stories extremely convincing.

What the FTC will never ask you to do

Knowing what the FTC doesn’t do can be just as valuable as recognizing common scam tactics.

The agency won’t call consumers unexpectedly to demand immediate payment. It won’t ask people to transfer money into government-controlled “safe accounts,” purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency, buy gold to protect their savings, or pay fees before receiving money recovered through an enforcement action.

Neither will it send photographs of employee identification cards to prove an employee’s identity.

Whenever someone claiming to represent the FTC makes any of these requests, consumers should assume they’re dealing with a scam until proven otherwise.

How Bitdefender helps stop FTC impersonation scams

FTC impersonation scams usually begin with an unexpected phone call, so the ability to identify and stop suspicious callers an important first line of defense.

Bitdefender Call Blocking, available in Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android, helps reduce unwanted calls by automatically blocking known scam and spam numbers before they reach you. By filtering many fraudulent callers, it can help prevent scammers from initiating the conversation in the first place.

Some scams, however, don’t stop with a phone call. Fraudsters often follow up with text messages, emails, QR codes, or links designed to reinforce their story. If you’re unsure whether a message or document is legitimate, Bitdefender Scamio can analyze suspicious communications and help you determine whether you’re dealing with a scam before you respond.

While no security solution can block every fraudulent call or message, combining call filtering with AI-powered scam detection significantly reduces the chances of becoming a victim of government impersonation scams.

FAQ

Will the FTC ever call consumers?

Answer: The FTC may contact consumers in very limited situations, usually as a follow-up to a report you filed, but it won’t demand money, request gift cards or cryptocurrency or ask you to move funds into a “safe account.”

Can scammers spoof an FTC phone number?

Answer: Yes. Scammers can spoof caller ID to make it appear that a call comes from the FTC or another government agency.

Does the FTC have agents with badge numbers?

Answer: No. The FTC has warned that it doesn’t have “agents.” Anyone claiming to be an FTC agent with a badge number is a scammer.

Can the FTC recover money lost to scams?

Answer: Sometimes. The FTC may distribute refunds in certain cases, but it never charges upfront fees to release recovered money.

What should I do if I receive a fake FTC call?

Answer: Hang up, don’t share personal or financial information, and report the scam to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How can I protect myself from FTC impersonation scams?

Answer: Verify unexpected calls through official channels, never send money to unknown callers, and use scam protection tools such as Bitdefender Call Blocking and Scamio.