Slam the Scam: Government Imposter Scams Are Surging | Take Care
Slam the Scam: Government Imposter Scams Are Surging
By
Becky Ross
• May 20, 2026
Government imposter scams remain a persistent and damaging fraud threat. Each year, criminals pose as representatives from trusted agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA), or other government agencies, using fear, urgency, and authority to pressure people into sending money or revealing sensitive information. They spoof phone numbers. They send official-looking emails and text messages. They threaten arrest, benefit suspension, or even legal action.
And too often, it works.
We are proud to support the SSA’s annual #SlamTheScam initiative on March 5, 2026. Slam The Scam is a national effort to educate the public about how these imposters operate and how to report them. Raising awareness and providing tools to help identify and stop scams before they escalate is critical. The more people understand the tactics, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.
How Government Imposter Scams Work
The playbook is consistent and highly manipulative. Scammers typically:
- Claim there is a problem with your Social Security number or benefits, or that you need a new Medicare number
- Claim they are from the IRS and you owe taxes
- Spoof official SSA phone numbers and email addresses to appear legitimate
- Demand payment via gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit card
- Threaten arrest or legal action unless you act immediately
The SSA is clear: they will never threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or require payment through unconventional methods.
Scammers rely on emotional triggers (fear, confusion, urgency) that override rational thinking. Even financially savvy individuals can be caught off guard. Older adults are disproportionately targeted, not because they are less capable, but because they are more likely to:
- Have accumulated assets
- Be home to answer calls
- Be managing SSA benefits for themselves or a loved one
- Experience natural changes in cognition, stress tolerance, or digital fluency
Fraud today is industrialized, organized, and increasingly powered by AI. Social engineering scams have evolved beyond simple robocalls. Today’s criminals use AI voice cloning, run coordinated call centers, and exploit public data breaches to personalize outreach. Even well-informed individuals can fall victim in the right circumstances.
How to stay safe
- Remain calm. Talk to someone you trust.
- Hang up or ignore the voice message.
- DO NOT click on links or attachments in emails or text messages, or agree to screen share or download software.
- Avoid unfamiliar payment methods. Criminals will insist that you pay in a hard-to-trace manner, such as with a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, gold bars, or by mailing cash.
- Protect your personal information. Be skeptical of any contact you didn’t initiate.
- Spread the word. Share your knowledge of Social Security-related scams with your friends, family, and community.
- Sign up for advanced financial safety tools for a second set of eyes.
- Check suspicious messages, emails, and photos with Carefull ScamCheck.
- Report scams to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Supporting #SlamTheScam
National Consumer Protection Week and Slam the Scam Day are essential reminders that government agencies will never demand payment via gift cards or threaten arrest over the phone.
But protecting older adults and families requires an additional, intelligent layer. At Carefull, we built our AI-powered technology to recognize subtle financial behavior changes and socially engineered scam patterns, including many of the tactics outlined in the SSA’s resources. It’s purpose-built for aging financial risk and designed to provide oversight without overreach.
Try Carefull for free for 30 days to start protecting your finances from fraud and scams.
Becky Ross
Becky Ross is the Head of Marketing at Carefull, where she explores how fintechs, banks, credit unions, and wealth advisors can help protect older adults from fraud, scams, and money mistakes. She is passionate about bridging the gap between financial services and caregiving to create safer, smarter money experiences for families.
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