(pleasant music)
Narrator: If you receive a call, email, or text,
from someone claiming they're from the government
asking for a payment or your personal information,
you should always give it to them, right?
Wrong, scammers impersonate government officials
to steal your identity and take your money.
They may use actual government names,
and make their caller ID appear official.
They may say they need your Social Security number,
or bank account information to fix a problem.
They may even threaten
to suspend your benefits or arrest you.
The government will never call, email,
text, or direct message you through social media
to say you did something wrong, like committed a crime,
missed jury duty, or owe back taxes.
Instead, any official government contact is in writing
and usually through the United States Postal Service.
To protect yourself, remember to never share
your personal or financial information.
Never make a payment to someone you don't know,
especially by gift card, mobile payment apps,
money transfer, or cryptocurrency.
These requests should set off warning signs.
When in doubt, check it out.
Contact the agency directly.
Do not call a number provided by the scammer.
Talk to someone you trust before proceeding.
If you or someone you know has been targeted,
tell your bank, file a police report,
and report it to the FTC.
(pleasant music)