Government Imposter Scams Are Closer Than You Think

Apr 27, 2026 | 3 Minute Read

CASE #1:

It started with a phone call.

“Hi, this is the Social Security Administration…”

That’s what the caller told Mark, a lifelong resident of a small Minnesota town. The voice on the other end sounded official, calm, but urgent. 

They told him his Social Security number had been “compromised” and tied to criminal activity. If he didn’t act immediately, he could face serious consequences.

Mark’s heart started racing.

The caller knew his name. His address. Even the last four digits of his Social Security number.

Then came the instructions:
 Withdraw money. Move it to a “safe account.” Don’t tell anyone.

Thankfully, something didn’t sit right. Mark hung up and called his local bank.

That decision likely saved him thousands of dollars.

CASE #2: 

This scam started with a simple text message.

“Your package has been seized by U.S. Customs due to suspicious contents. Call immediately to avoid legal action.”

Sarah, a busy mom of three, almost ignored it. But she had just ordered something online, and the message looked official enough to make her pause.

When she called the number, the person on the other end introduced himself as a federal agent. He told her that her identity may have been used in a criminal case and that she needed to “verify her identity” to clear her name.

Then things escalated quickly.

She was told her bank accounts could be frozen. That she could be investigated, and that the safest thing to do was to withdraw her money and move it into a “secure government account” while the situation was sorted out.

The pressure was intense. The instructions were clear. And the fear felt real.

Sarah drove to her bank, uneasy, but something didn’t add up.

Before doing anything, she mentioned the situation to a teller.

That one conversation stopped the scam in its tracks.

What Is a Government Imposter Scam?

Government imposter scams happen when criminals pretend to be someone from a trusted agency like the IRS, Social Security Administration, law enforcement, or Medicare to trick you into sending money or sharing your personal information.

These scams are not rare, and they’re getting more and more sophisticated… Especially with the use of AI.

And they can happen to anyone.

How These Scams Work

Most government imposter scams follow a similar pattern:

  1. You receive an unexpected call, text, email, or message
  2. The person claims to be from a government agency
  3. They create urgency where they threaten arrest, fines, or loss of benefits
  4. They demand immediate payment or personal information

Scammers may say things like:

  • “You missed jury duty and you’ll be arrested unless you pay now.”
  • “You owe back taxes.”
  • “Your Social Security benefits have been suspended.”

These messages are designed to create fear and pressure you into acting quickly. 

Here’s the most important thing to remember:

Real government agencies will NOT:

  • Call or message you demanding immediate payment
  • Threaten you with arrest over the phone
  • Ask you to pay using gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
  • Tell you to move your money to “protect it”
  • Coach you by providing a false story to give to your banker or family member inquiring about the transaction. 

Those are all signs of a scam.

If you receive a suspicious message or call:

  1. Pause: Scammers rely on panic. Take a moment before reacting.
  2. Don’t share anything: Never give out your Social Security number, account details, or passwords.
  3. Don’t send money: Especially not through gift cards, payment apps, bitcoin, or crypto. These are nearly impossible to recover.
  4. Verify independently: Look up the official phone number of the agency that claims to be contacting you and call them directly.
    • Caller ID can be faked (spoofed), so do not rely on what the caller ID says. Even if the number on your screen matches one from local law enforcement or an official government agency, it doesn’t prove who is calling.   
  1. Talk to someone you trust: A quick conversation can help you spot what you might miss in the moment.

This Matters Most In Small Communities

In small towns, we’re used to trusting people. We recognize names. We pick up the phone.

That’s exactly what scammers count on.

They’re not just targeting big cities, they’re targeting communities like ours, where people look out for each other… but may not expect deception.

So, if something feels off, even if you’re not sure, it’s always better to ask.

At Perennial Bank, we would much rather take a few minutes to review a situation with you than see you lose money to a scam.

If you suspect fraud:

  • Call your local branch
  • Stop the transaction if possible
  • Let us help you verify what’s real and what’s not

And remember:

No one is completely immune to scams, but together, we can stay one step ahead.