Fraudsters impersonating federal agents are using spoofed phone numbers, real officials’ names and staged video calls to trick victims in New Jersey, the FBI’s Newark office has warned.
The criminals have posed as agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Secret Service, using tactics designed to make their claims appear genuine even when victims attempt to verify them.
FBI Newark issued the warning on September 29 after receiving reports from people in New Jersey. The bureau said the scam is an updated version of a long-running fraud in which criminals exploit the authority of law enforcement to steal money.
How the federal agent scam works
In some cases, callers manipulate caller ID so that a genuine telephone number belonging to a federal field office appears on the victim’s screen. They then introduce themselves using the name of a real agent.
When a target independently calls the field office, staff may confirm that the named agent is employed there. That genuine information can make the fraudulent call seem credible, even though the person who made it is not a federal official.
The FBI said some victims have been unable to speak to anyone at the field office but have nevertheless been reassured by the authentic-looking number.
In one reported case, a fraudster arranged an online video meeting and created a backdrop resembling an FBI office, complete with a desk and FBI seal. The man on screen wore a suit in an attempt to reinforce the impression that he was a genuine agent.
The bureau said the use of real names and official-looking settings is intended to defeat basic checks that might otherwise expose the fraud.
What the FBI says the public should do
Legitimate federal law enforcement officers will not demand money over the telephone or through a virtual meeting. The FBI has also said its agents do not contact victims or suspects through video-conferencing platforms as part of this type of interaction.
Anyone who receives an unsolicited call claiming to come from the FBI, DEA or Secret Service should not send money or disclose personal or financial information.
Instead, people should find the agency’s official telephone number independently and call it themselves. They should tell the operator that they believe they may be the target of an impersonation scam and want to confirm whether the alleged agent is contacting them.
If a local field office cannot be reached, the FBI said people can contact the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. It advised against using a number supplied by the caller or allowing the caller to transfer the call.
Anyone who receives a fraudulent video call should preserve evidence by taking photographs or making a screen recording, where possible. Reports can be submitted to the FBI online or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The bureau said members of the public should never send money to anyone claiming to be a federal law enforcement agent, regardless of how convincing the caller, telephone number or video appearance may seem.
