Investigate the pervasive threat of national security scams, where fraudsters impersonate government officials or agencies. These schemes often involve urgent...
A national security scam involves fraudsters impersonating government officials or agencies (e.g., FBI, NSA) to trick individuals into providing personal information, money, or access to accounts, often by citing fabricated threats or investigations.
Scammers primarily use phone calls, emails, and sometimes text messages. They often employ spoofing technology to display official-looking caller IDs or email addresses to appear legitimate.
Red flags include urgent demands for immediate payment via unusual methods (gift cards, wire transfers), threats of arrest or legal action, requests for sensitive personal information over the phone/email, and pressure to keep the conversation secret.
Do not engage with the caller or responder. Hang up immediately or delete the email. Do not provide any personal information or make any payments. Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or your local law enforcement.