Nearly $1.6B Lost to Government Impersonation Scams

[Japinat]

Sharing this one about the recent FBI warning regarding government and law enforcement impersonation scams. I know some of you may have already heard about this, but maybe some don't have an idea how big the losses are from this type of scam.

According to the report, nearly 61,000 complaints were received from January 2025 to July 2026, with more than $1.6 billion in losses. That's already a huge amount of money, and what's more worrying is that scammers are now also using AI-generated voices, images and videos to make their impersonation more convincing.


FBI / IC3 - Government Impersonation Scam Warning

So here's the usual pattern:

Fake government/law enforcement
= tells you there is a warrant, unpaid fine, tax problem or case
= pressures you to act immediately
= asks you to pay through crypto, wire transfer or prepaid cards

If you're someone who is not aware of this, it's easy to panic. But once you know how this scam works, asking for payment through crypto is already a big red flag. Government or law enforcement normally won't just call you and pressure you to settle a case by sending crypto.

It's understandable why some victims panic, especially when the scammer already knows their name or other personal information. But that doesn't mean the person calling is legit, personal information can be leaked or stolen and that's nothing new. So if you receive something like this, better end the call first and verify directly with the agency before making a decision that you might regret.

Now with AI getting better, which we cannot deny, being stuck with what we used to know can make us more vulnerable to scams. We also have to educate ourselves, it doesn't take much time but at least it can protect us because scammers also improve and evolve their methods.

[Joy_learns_crypto]

The use of Crypto should ring a bell that it could be a scam but that isn't always how you tell if it's a scam or not, this type of scams that has to do with the government has lesser use of cryptocurrency.

Nearly $1.6b lost that is so because this scammers don't only take the tax or fine they claim their victims owe the government, they also take over your account when you try paying using your card and then they are able to withdraw more if not all that is I'm your account because you gave in your details during the payment.

[EluguHcman]

For me it is very easy to identify scammers claiming to be government agencies just to influence victims.
If you are in such target where you are labelled victim in attachment to scam for whatsoever reason, asking you to pay a fine is never the way forward if the said entity is genuine.
First your account will be restricted from your accessibility of making withdrawal immediately you are sensed/detected of illegal involvement so that you don't withdraw all your money and willing to forfeit your account before you get apprehended or restricted from the account.

Genuine government agencies will also be endeavored to request your present to report to their office for physical/proper interrogations believing that if you are innocent of any accuses you will show up to clear yourself.
But those impersonating agents who are operating illegally would always hold on to the victim to pay fine and asking their targets not to tell it to other parties just so that you (their target) don't verify that they are scammers.
So they will always facilitate on you clearing yourself with the fine without proper measures of providing you with evidence.

[BlackBoss_]

Sharing this one about the recent FBI warning regarding government and law enforcement impersonation scams. I know some of you may have already heard about this, but maybe some don't have an idea how big the losses are from this type of scam.

Something similar to the case reported by mocacinno weeks ago.

Impersonation scam is an old scam method but it is very commonly used by scammers. Newbies can learn more about this scam method as well as other scam methods in Cryptocurrency scambook.

Crypto scams, attacks and malwares.

I just wanted to share a quick heads up, a real story that happened to me last/this week. I hope my story can prevent people from getting scammed... Maybe if something similar is happening to you, you can remember this thread and act accordingly.

... read more if you like it ...

[tech30338]

Sharing this one about the recent FBI warning regarding government and law enforcement impersonation scams. I know some of you may have already heard about this, but maybe some don't have an idea how big the losses are from this type of scam.

According to the report, nearly 61,000 complaints were received from January 2025 to July 2026, with more than $1.6 billion in losses. That's already a huge amount of money, and what's more worrying is that scammers are now also using AI-generated voices, images and videos to make their impersonation more convincing.


FBI / IC3 - Government Impersonation Scam Warning

So here's the usual pattern:

Fake government/law enforcement
= tells you there is a warrant, unpaid fine, tax problem or case
= pressures you to act immediately
= asks you to pay through crypto, wire transfer or prepaid cards

If you're someone who is not aware of this, it's easy to panic. But once you know how this scam works, asking for payment through crypto is already a big red flag. Government or law enforcement normally won't just call you and pressure you to settle a case by sending crypto.

It's understandable why some victims panic, especially when the scammer already knows their name or other personal information. But that doesn't mean the person calling is legit, personal information can be leaked or stolen and that's nothing new. So if you receive something like this, better end the call first and verify directly with the agency before making a decision that you might regret.

Now with AI getting better, which we cannot deny, being stuck with what we used to know can make us more vulnerable to scams. We also have to educate ourselves, it doesn't take much time but at least it can protect us because scammers also improve and evolve their methods.

So now they are changing tactics for sure the person were first monitor then they plan this thing before they move, i heard a news before where the police did not surrender the alleged wallet with crypto and take it launder the money and use it.
This one is a fraud acting like a government officials and asking for payment, there are lots of this scheme where they will pretend to be something, this is why don't act immediately by doing a transfer or giving the money to them, it is important not to expose your wallet or as a person, to the internet, because you will be a target.

[Japinat]

Nearly $1.6b lost that is so because this scammers don't only take the tax or fine they claim their victims owe the government, they also take over your account when you try paying using your card and then they are able to withdraw more if not all that is I'm your account because you gave in your details during the payment.

It does not say that the losses are from cards alone, the $1.6 billion came from different payment methods including bank wires, prepaid cards, crypto payments and even cash through crypto kiosks.

So I don't think we should judge the scam based on one payment method only. It's already a huge amount of money coming from different ways of stealing from victims, but all of these cases fall under government impersonation scams. The important part is the method they use to pressure the victim, pretending to be from the government or law enforcement and making them pay out of fear.

[Mitchell]

Locked and moved to archival. Please post in the general thread if it is something new.