FTC Warns of Impersonation Scam Involving Fake Law Enforcement Officers and Spoofed Caller ID

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer alert warning the public about a rising scam in which fraudsters impersonate local law enforcement officers using fake caller IDs to coerce victims into sending money.

According to the FTC, the scammers pose as sheriffs or deputies and claim to have intercepted a suspicious package addressed to the recipient, allegedly containing cash and illegal items such as drugs or weapons. Victims are told they face imminent arrest unless they pay a “fine” immediately.

To avoid arrest, targets are instructed to send cash, deposit money through Bitcoin ATMs, purchase gift cards, provide the numbers, or transfer funds via popular payment apps such as Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.

In some cases, scammers appear credible: they may use the real names of law enforcement officials, spoof legitimate phone numbers to appear on caller ID, or reference the victim’s personal information, including their name and home address. 

The FTC emphasized that these tactics are fraudulent. Real law enforcement officers will never call to threaten arrest or demand payment, especially not through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or digital transfers.

Consumers are urged to:

• Hang up immediately if they receive such a call.
• Do not call back the number shown on the caller ID.
• Verify independently by contacting local authorities using official websites or contact information they know is real. 

In February, the FTC issued an alert regarding a new variation of impersonation scams in which fraudsters falsely claimed to be FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson to deceive consumers. In March, the agency reported that U.S. consumers lost an estimated $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, marking a 25% increase over reported losses in 2023.