{"id":93743,"date":"2024-03-05T22:33:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T06:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety?p=93743"},"modified":"2024-08-05T03:06:14","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T11:06:14","slug":"slam-the-scam-dangerous-government-imposter-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/blog\/slam-the-scam-dangerous-government-imposter-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Slam the Scam! Dangerous Government Imposter Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trend Micro’s top tips how to avoid SSA, IRS, and FBI scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On Thursday, March 7, we\u2019ll celebrate National Slam the Scam Day<\/a><\/strong>, an initiative launched in the USA by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General to raise awareness of government imposter scams. Imposter scams caused US consumers to lose nearly $2.7 billion in 2023<\/a> alone, and when bad actors impersonate the government, their deception can be especially convincing and concerning for potential victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In support of Slam the Scam Day, we\u2019ve compiled a list of five US government imposter scams that you should be aware of. However, if you don\u2019t live in the US, the advice in this post will help you recognize similar scams in your own country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how to spot and avoid these deceptive schemes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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IRS Tax Refund Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Watch out for scammers impersonating the IRS and claiming that you\u2019re due a tax refund. The communication will often say that you\u2019re eligible for a tax refund, but you need to provide or update your address\/bank details. Here are two examples of this scam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"IRS\n
\n Source<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \"IRS\n
\n Source<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

These emails encourage you to click on the embedded button, which leads to a scammer-controlled website that prompts you to enter your personal information \u2014 and this is exactly what the scammers are after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Don\u2019t interact with such emails in any way and remember that the IRS will never initiate contact with you by email, text, or social media regarding a tax refund. If you are using a desktop device and you see a suspicious link, hover your mouse over it to uncover where it truly leads. If you are unsure if a link is legitimate, you can verify it at the Trend Micro Site Safety Center<\/a> for free.<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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IRS Unpaid Tax Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scammers may also impersonate the IRS and email you claiming that your tax payment was unsuccessful and that you need to repay. Inside the email there is an attachment containing a receipt for the refunded failed payment. Here\u2019s what it looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IRS<\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, the attachment is malicious and potentially capable of many nefarious behaviors, such as allowing the scammer access to your files\/data and possibly even enabling them to spy on you through your device\u2019s camera. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re ever suspicious of an email or you don\u2019t recognize the sender, don\u2019t click on any attachments. Also, did you notice any grammatical errors in the above scam? Always keep an eye out for poor spelling, punctuation, and grammar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Social Security Number Suspension Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This scam is particularly scary because it claims that your Social Security number has been or will be suspended and often threatens you with legal action. Here are two examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Social\n
\n Source<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \"Social\n
\n Source<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The goal of this email scam is to scare you into calling the provided number. However, it won\u2019t be a representative from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on the other end; it will be a scammer, whose goal is to trick you into sharing your valuable personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you receive a suspicious email from the SSA or any other government agency, don\u2019t call any included numbers. Instead, visit the agency\u2019s website directly using your usual search engine (such as Google, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo) and use the contact information available there. For reference, the SSA\u2019s legitimate phone number is 1-800-772-1213.<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fake FBI Email Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this scam, the sender impersonates an FBI agent, claiming that you\u2019ve been sent a package containing a large amount of money, but due to a lack of documentation the package has been confiscated, and you\u2019re at risk of being arrested for money laundering. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fake<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This scam email instructs you to reply within 72 hours and avoid contacting a bank or anyone else. The scammer does not want you to contact anyone else as you may uncover that this is a scam email. The 72-hour deadline places an urgency on you to respond quickly \u2014 this is a common tactic used by scammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you look closely, you will see that the sender\u2019s email address (which has been partially blurred) doesn\u2019t resemble an official government\/FBI email address in any way \u2014 a huge red flag that it\u2019s completely bogus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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IC3 Fake Compensation Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This scam involves the scammer impersonating the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and falsely claiming that you\u2019re eligible to receive over $1.7 million in restitution for being a victim of an online fraud scheme. Here\u2019s what the scam email looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IC3<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it\u2019s simply not true; the scammer\u2019s goal is to entice you into contacting the included email address. If you were to do as instructed and send an email, a scammer would begin corresponding with you with the goal of tricking you into sharing your personal information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Tips to Slam the Scam!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

National Slam the Scam Day is designed to raise awareness about US government imposter scams, but no matter where you live in the world, the following tips will help you avoid becoming a victim of a government imposter scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Red Flags of Government Imposter Scams<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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