IRS Phone Call Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers pose as IRS threatening arrest for unpaid taxes. IRS never calls threatening arrest and always starts with mailed letters.
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→6 confirmed active threats
🏛️Government Impersonation
Government impersonation scams caused $405M across 17,367 complaints in 2024. Criminals pose as IRS, SSA, FBI, or police, threatening arrest or benefit loss unless you pay immediately via gift cards or crypto. Seniors 60+ lost $208M to these scams.
$406Min reported losses, 2024(IC3)17 367 complaints↑ 3% vs 2023
6
Patterns Documented
6
Confirmed Threats
0
High Risk
$16.6B
Reported Losses, 2024 (IC3)
Data sourced from FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Data reflects complaints submitted to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and may not represent all incidents. ZeroScam is an educational tool and is not affiliated with the FBI.
Filter by Category
Clear filter ×All Patterns (85)₿ Cryptocurrency Scams(4)$6.6B💳 Payment & BEC Scams(9)$2.8B💻 Tech Support Scams(5)$1.5B🔓 Personal Data Breach(2)$1.5B🛒 Online Purchase Scams(5)💔 Romance Scams(3)🏛️ Government Impersonation(6)🏢 Corporate Data Breach(3)💼 Job & Employment Scams(6)🏧 Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams(3)🥇 Gold Courier Scams(2)🪪 Identity Theft(3)🏠 Rental Scams(2)🔒 Extortion & Blackmail(1)🎰 Prize & Lottery Scams(1)🎣 Phishing & Smishing(3)📦 Delivery & Shipping Scams(4)🎭 Impersonation Scams(4)🤖 AI-Powered Scams(5)📱 Social Media Scams(2)📞 Telemarketing Scams(1)🏥 Healthcare Scams(1)🏦 Financial Service Scams(2)🔧 Service Provider Scams(2)🎗️ Charity Scams(1)🗳️ Election & Civic Scams(2)🧬 Synthetic Identity Fraud(2)🔄 Recovery Scams(1)
Threat Levels
CONFIRMED THREAT— Actively reported to FBI IC3
HIGH RISK— Significant victim reports
EMERGING— Recently identified pattern
Social Security Suspension Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers claim your SSN has been "suspended" due to criminal activity. This is impossible—SSNs cannot be suspended.
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→Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers pose as police, FBI, or DEA claiming warrant for your arrest. Real police never call demanding payment.
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→Government Grant Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers claim you've been selected for a free government grant. Real grants require applications—you can't win grants you didn't apply for.
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→Immigration Services Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers impersonate USCIS or immigration lawyers, demanding payment for visa processing or threatening deportation.
phoneemaildoor to-door
→Jury Duty Warrant Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers claim you missed jury duty and have a warrant. Real courts send written summons and don't call demanding payment.
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→Common Questions About Government Impersonation
Does the IRS call threatening arrest?▼
Never. IRS contacts by mail first, never threatens immediate arrest, never demands gift cards or crypto.
Can my Social Security number be suspended?▼
No. SSNs cannot be suspended — this is impossible. Any message saying this is 100% a scam.
Would police call demanding payment for a warrant?▼
Never. Warrants go through courts, not phone payments. Hang up.
How do I verify a government call?▼
Hang up. Call the agency using the number from their .gov website. IRS: 1-800-829-1040. SSA: 1-800-772-1213.
📖 How to Use This Database
- ✓Browse patterns to learn scammer tactics before you encounter them
- ✓Share specific pattern pages with family members who may be targeted
- ✓Use our scanner to check suspicious messages against all 85 patterns
- ✓Report scams to FBI IC3 and FTC using links on each pattern page
⚖️ Important Information
This database is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Pattern data is derived from publicly available FBI IC3 reports and ongoing research.
ZeroScam does not guarantee detection of all scams. Always exercise caution and verify independently before sending money or personal information.
Not legal or financial advice. If you have been victimized, contact local law enforcement and file reports with FBI IC3 and FTC.
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73% of Americans report being targeted(Pew Research, 2025 survey)
|$470M reported in text-related fraud(FTC, 2024)
|$16.6B in total reported losses(FBI IC3, 2024)