The IRS Is Not Calling You: How to Spot US Government-Impersonation Scams
Fake IRS, Social Security, and Medicare calls and texts cost Americans hundreds of millions a year. Real agencies do not call to threaten arrest or demand gift cards. The tells that give the scam away, and exactly where to report an IRS, SSA, or Medicare impersonator.
The call sounds official and frightening: you owe back taxes, your Social Security number has been suspended, or your Medicare benefits are about to be cancelled. Pay now, or face arrest. It is a scam. Real US government agencies do not call, text, or email to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment, and they never ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Government-impersonation scams cost Americans $789 million in 2024, and roughly $920 million in 2025. Here is how to recognise them and where to report.
The tells
Government impersonators all rely on the same moves:
- Urgency and fear. Arrest, lawsuits, suspended Social Security numbers, cancelled Medicare. Real agencies do not operate this way.
- Unusual payment. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps. No agency collects this way.
- Out-of-the-blue contact. The IRS generally makes first contact by mail. A surprise call or text claiming to be the IRS is a red flag.
- Requests for personal data. Pressure to confirm your Social Security number, bank details, or a one-time code.
- Spoofed caller ID. The number may look official, even matching a real agency line. Scammers fake this routinely, so it proves nothing.
That text about your "tax refund"
The fastest-growing version of this scam in 2026 arrives as a text message. The FTC warned in January 2026 about messages claiming your "tax refund" has been processed or approved, with a link to "verify your identity" so the money can be sent. The link leads to a fake IRS page built to harvest your Social Security number and bank details. One rule beats every variant: the IRS does not initiate contact by text message, email, or social media. A first-contact text from the "IRS" is a scam, every time.
- Do not click the link or reply, not even "STOP".
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender.
- Email a screenshot to [email protected] with the sender number and the date and time you got it, then delete the message.
- If you already clicked and entered details, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan and consider freezing your credit with all three bureaus.
The same smishing kits send fake unpaid-toll and package-delivery texts. If you got one of those instead, see our guide to the unpaid-toll text wave: same playbook, same defence.
Where to report, by agency
Reporting to the right place helps shut these operations down:
| Impersonated agency | Where to report |
|---|---|
| IRS / taxes | TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) at 800-366-4484, and email phishing details to [email protected]. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM). |
| Social Security | SSA Office of the Inspector General (oig.ssa.gov/report). SSA warns scammers even spoof its own fraud line, so report online rather than calling back a number you were given. |
| Medicare | 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). |
| Any of the above | The FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. |
Watch tax season and new tactics
The IRS publishes an annual "Dirty Dozen" list of the top scams. The 2026 edition flags QR-code and text-message (smishing) tax scams that send victims to fake IRS sites, and AI-assisted phone calls using spoofed caller ID. The safe habit is simple: never click a link in an unexpected message claiming to be the IRS, and never act on a threatening call. Go to the agency's real website or a number you look up yourself.
If you were contacted (or paid)
- Do not pay or share details. Hang up or stop replying. Verify by contacting the real agency through a number you find yourself.
- If you paid, act fast. Contact your bank or card issuer, and if you paid by gift card, call the issuer's fraud line immediately.
- Report it to the agency-specific channel above and to the FTC. If money was lost, also file with the FBI at ic3.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Does the IRS call you? Not first, and not with threats. The IRS normally makes initial contact by mail and does not demand immediate payment or threaten arrest by phone.
I got a text saying my tax refund was approved. Is it real? No. The IRS does not send refund updates or requests by text. It is phishing for your Social Security number and bank details. Forward it to 7726, email a screenshot to [email protected], and delete it.
The caller ID showed a real government number. Is it legit? No. Scammers spoof official numbers easily. Caller ID proves nothing. Hang up and verify independently.
Where do I report an IRS impersonator? TIGTA at 800-366-4484 and [email protected], plus the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For Social Security, use the SSA OIG; for Medicare, 1-800-MEDICARE.
They asked for gift cards or crypto. What does that tell me? That it is definitely a scam. No government agency accepts gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
If you or someone you love has been targeted, you are not alone. See our guide to the first 24 hours after a scam and our country-by-country reporting and recovery hub.