🎯 In 30 seconds: Real agencies almost always write first, by mail. They don’t threaten arrest on the phone, don’t demand gift cards, crypto or wires, and don’t ask you to keep the call secret. When in doubt, hang up and call the agency on a number you look up yourself.
How each agency really makes contact
| Agency | How it really contacts you | Tells of a fake | Verify here |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS | A letter or notice comes first. An agent may call after that, for example to set an audit appointment. Private collection agencies call only after you get written notice. | A first contact by email, text or social media; urgent threats of arrest; any request for a gift card or prepaid card. | Your IRS online account; 800-829-1040 (individuals, weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time) |
| Social Security (SSA) | If there is a problem with your number or record, SSA typically mails a letter. | “Your number is suspended”; demands for payment; threats of arrest; requests to keep the call secret; a call “transferred” to SSA from a bank or store. | my Social Security account at ssa.gov; 1-800-772-1213 |
| Medicare | Doesn’t call to sell you anything or visit your home. Calls asking for personal details happen only in limited cases, such as returning your call. | Cold calls offering a “new card”, free equipment or genetic tests in exchange for your Medicare number. | 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); claims in your Medicare.gov account |
| Federal courts (jury duty) | Most contact with jurors is by US mail. Courts don’t require sensitive information by phone or email. | “You missed jury duty, pay a fine now or be arrested.” | The clerk of court for your district, found with the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov |
| Police and federal agents | Don’t settle warrants by phone payment and never pick up money at your door. | Badge numbers recited on the phone; a courier sent to collect cash or gold. | Your local police non-emergency number from the city’s website |
Tells that apply to every agency
- The payment method. The FTC says no government agency will demand that you wire money or pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment app.
- Secrecy. A real official won’t tell you to keep the conversation secret or to lie to your bank.
- Caller ID. Scammers can spoof a real agency number. The SSA Inspector General says not to trust caller ID alone.
- A transfer. The SSA Inspector General’s July 2026 alert: companies and other agencies cannot transfer your call directly to SSA or its Inspector General. If that happens, it is a scam.
- Prizes and grants. The government doesn’t call to give you money in exchange for a fee.
A worked example: the IRS letter that is real
You get a mailed IRS notice saying you owe $1,240 from a missed 1099 form. It looks real but you aren’t sure. Don’t call the number printed on it yet. Instead:
- Log in to your IRS online account at irs.gov (type the address). Real balances and notices show up there.
- Look up the notice number (for example “CP2000”) in the IRS notice guide on irs.gov.
- If it matches, pay only through irs.gov/payments or by check made out to the “United States Treasury”.
Now compare a fake: a call says you owe $1,240, an arrest warrant is pending, and you must buy Apple gift cards within two hours. Three tells in one call: phone first, a threat, a gift card.
Put a note by the phone
“IRS, Social Security, Medicare and the courts write first. They never want gift cards. Hang up and call me.” It helps older relatives most, since they are targeted most.
Where to report an imposter
| IRS or Treasury imposter | TIGTA: 1-800-366-4484 or tigta.gov |
| Social Security imposter | ssa.gov/scam (SSA Inspector General) |
| Medicare fraud | 1-800-MEDICARE or the HHS Inspector General |
| Jury duty scam | Your district’s clerk of court, then the FTC |
| Any imposter | ReportFraud.ftc.gov |
If you already paid, the recovery steps are on the Money Theft & Forensics page.