Scammers impersonating government officials claim you owe money, face arrest, or must pay fees to avoid legal trouble. They often pose as agents from the Social Security Administration, U.S. Marshals, FBI, Homeland Security, ICE, or local police. These criminals use fear to control you — saying you’re under investigation, linked to criminal activity, or about to be arrested. Then they demand you “verify” or “clear your name” by sending money or personal information. Real government agencies never make threats or demand payment through Bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfer.

Regardless of the setup, the scam always ends with you taking cash out of your bank and putting it into a “government kiosk” (really a Bitcoin ATM). The perpetrators often have another scammer call you pretending to be a different person to “confirm” the fraud.