On September 17, 2026, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center issued an updated nationwide warning about scammers posing as law enforcement or government officials to pressure people into paying or sharing sensitive information.
IC3 says it received nearly 61,000 complaints between January 2025 and July 2026, with reported losses topping $1.6 billion. Those complaint figures are not a complete count of every scam or loss.
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
The FBI’s new warning is about the pressure, not just the caller ID
The FBI says scammers most often start with an unsolicited phone call, though texts and emails are also used. They may copy a real agency number, employee name, email address, or credential, then keep the target on the phone or discourage outside verification.
The story may involve a crime, missed jury duty, an arrest warrant, or an expiring license. The demand then shifts to money or personal information.
“Law enforcement and government authorities will never contact members of the public by telephone or text message to demand any form of payment”
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
Why the call can feel surprisingly convincing
The FBI says scammers may know personal details, use authentic-looking credentials, and spoof an agency’s real number. The alert also says some schemes now use artificial intelligence to make a scammer appear to be a government or law-enforcement official during a video call.
Caller ID, a badge number, a real employee name, or a face on video are clues, not proof. The FTC warns that caller ID can display a real government number even when the call came from somewhere else.
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center · Federal Trade Commission
A real case this week shows how the script can escalate
Bessemer, Alabama police told WBRC on September 15 that they were investigating two cases in which callers allegedly posed as FBI agents and persuaded residents to withdraw thousands of dollars. Police said the callers had victims’ bank numbers and framed the withdrawal as part of an investigation. According to the report, the victims did not get the money back.
The local case is separate from the nationwide $1.6 billion figure, but it shows the same pattern: official-sounding pressure, personal information, then a demand for money.
Sources: WBRC 6 News · FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
How to check an alarming government call
End the conversation.
Do not stay on the line while the caller ‘verifies’ the story. Hanging up breaks the pressure and stops the caller from controlling your next step.
Find the agency yourself.
Use the agency’s official .gov website or another official directory to find a public phone number. Do not use the callback number, link, or contact information supplied in the message.
Treat unusual payment methods as a major warning sign.
The FBI says government and law-enforcement officials will not demand payment by prepaid card, cryptocurrency, or courier. The FTC also warns against wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and payment apps demanded by government impostors.
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center · Federal Trade Commission
If you already paid or shared information
Stop contact with the caller and contact your financial institution or payment provider immediately. The FTC recommends asking whether a transfer or payment can be reversed or refunded. Recovery is not guaranteed, but acting quickly can matter.
Keep the phone number shown on your screen, messages, emails, payment records, cryptocurrency addresses, and any names or instructions the caller used. Report the incident to local law enforcement and IC3. If you shared sensitive personal information, follow the FTC’s recovery guidance and use IdentityTheft.gov when appropriate.
You can also look up an unfamiliar number on PhoneYa for available complaint data and screened community reports. That context can help, but it cannot prove who actually called because caller ID can be spoofed.
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center · Federal Trade Commission
Sources & further reading
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint CenterScammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes · September 17, 2026
- WBRC 6 NewsBessemer Police warn of fake FBI phone scam after 2 residents lose thousands · September 15, 2026
- Federal Trade CommissionHow To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
- Federal Trade CommissionWhat To Do if You Were Scammed
Our reporting summarizes the sources above. Read our editorial standards and correction policy.
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