Government impersonation and tax scams

Summary & what to do

If someone pretended to be the IRS, Treasury, or another government agency to pressure you into paying or sharing personal information, report it using the official links below. For other government imposter scams, the FTC and IC3 also accept reports.

What to do right now

  • Stop contact—real IRS and Treasury do not demand immediate payment by phone, gift cards, or crypto.
  • Do not send money or personal information to the caller or emailer.
  • Save evidence: phone number, email, URLs, and any messages.
  • Report using the correct official link below.

Where to report

Who: The IRS accepts reports of phishing and scams that impersonate the IRS.

When to use: Use this when you received a suspicious email, call, or message claiming to be the IRS.

What to prepare:

  • Forward the full email or note the phone number
  • Date and what was requested

IRS – Report phishing

Who: The Treasury Department has a page for reporting scam attempts that impersonate Treasury.

When to use: Use this when someone falsely claimed to be from the U.S. Treasury.

What to prepare:

  • How they contacted you
  • What they asked for
  • Any details you have

Treasury – Report scam attempts

Who: The FTC and IC3 also take reports of government imposter scams.

When to use: Use these for any scam where someone pretended to be a government official (IRS, SSA, etc.).

What to prepare:

  • Dates and contact method
  • What they asked for
  • Amount of money if any

FTC ReportFraud

Older adults targeted by fraud can also contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline.

Scam types in this category

Detailed guides and where to report each:

Need help now?