What is the Fake FBI Scam? A Victim’s Story and How You Can Protect Yourself

Do you know why scammers don’t apply for jobs at the FBI? It’s because their cover letters are filled with red flags! But jokes aside, scammers are increasingly exploiting the FBI's image to deceive people..

The Fake FBI scam is a scheme where scammers rely on impersonation, urgency, and emotional manipulation to trick people into providing their information and money. You can avoid this scam by recognizing red flags, verifying claims, and limiting data sharing.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, people lose billions yearly to impersonation scams, including FBI impersonation. In 2023, there was over $12 billion loss to online fraud, most of it came from impersonation through phishing and business email compromise.

One victim of a fake FBI is Judith Boivin.

Judith Boivin is an 80-year-old social worker and retired nurse from Maryland.

In September 2023, she fell victim to a scam, making her lose $600,000—her entire life savings.

Here’s what happened:

Judith was driving her husband, who has Parkinson’s, to the doctors. While on the road, Judith received a call that looked like it came from the local police. When Judith answered, the caller claimed they’re working with the FBI and are investigating drug traffickers. The caller then said they needed Judith’s help.

The caller claimed that a cartel that’s trafficking fentanyl has used Judith’s social security number to open three accounts for money laundering. The scam was highly convincing, mainly because the scammers provided official-looking documents and communications. The scammers also transferred Judith to a fake FBI and used a real FBI agent's name. All of this made it difficult for Judith to discern the fraud.

The fake FBI said they needed Judith to be an asset for the investigation and that she should be committed to keeping the investigation confidential. This left Judith without a chance of getting outside help to recognize the scam.

Eventually, the scammers told Judith to withdraw all her money to save it from criminals. They guaranteed that her money will be put in a secured vault that belongs to a courthouse and that it will be returned after the case.

Then, the scammers instructed Judith to wrap the money in plastic, with duct tape, and in brown paper. They told Judith to drop the money in a parking lot where agents would pick it up. Again, the fake FBI instructed Judith not to say or do anything.

When Judith found out about the scam, it was already too late – she had already lost $600,000. Despite how diligent she was with financial planning, the scammers were able to trick Judith, exploiting her caring and trusting personality.

What happened to Judith highlights how sophisticated scams can get and how scammers prey on the most vulnerable.

Judith is just one of the many victims of FBI impersonation scams. In 2023, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 14,100 reports of government and FBI impersonation scams.

Remember: Not all victims file reports, so there are likely more victims of FBI impersonation.

Now, why does this scam work so well?

The FBI impersonation scam works through a combination of social engineering, psychological tactics, and the exploitation of human vulnerabilities.

Let’s break them down:

1. Impersonation of Authority: Some people are conditioned to obey figures of authority, such as law enforcement. So, when scammers impersonate the FBI, they establish a false sense of trust, which makes people more likely to quickly comply without careful evaluation.
2. Urgency and Fear: Scammers, pretending to be the FBI, will claim that you’re under investigation or that you need to act quickly. This will trigger a sense of urgency. Additionally, there’s the fear of legal trouble, penalties, and arrest, which prompts people to comply without verifying the situation.
3. Sophisticated Techniques. Scammers use sophisticated techniques like spoofing phone numbers, making their calls appear like they’re really coming from official FBI lines. They also can easily have access to personal information from social media, data brokers, and the dark web. They use the information to create personalized messages and make their claims more believable.
4. Preying on the Most Vulnerable: Scammers make sure to attack the most vulnerable, such as immigrants, those unfamiliar with the legal system, and the elderly. According to the FBI, almost half of the government impersonation scam reports in 2023 came from older adults. This can be attributed to the elderly’s trust in authority, health problems, isolation, and insufficient familiarity with modern scams.
5. Emotional Manipulation. Scammers manipulate their targets by using a calm but firm tone to establish a false sense of security. They can also make you feel guilty or pressured to cooperate by saying that you’re helping solve a crime. They also capitalize on people’s natural fear of embarrassment or reputational harm, saying they’ll publicize the crime you supposedly did.

Here are some proactive steps you can take to protect yourself from the Fake FBI scam:

1. Recognizing Red Flags: The signs of an FBI scam include unsolicited contact, threats, non-secure payment methods, and urgent demands. The FBI will never contact citizens to make threats and demand payment. They’re also not allowed to ask you to use a lot of money to help with their investigations or operations.
2. Always Verify: If you get a call from a supposed FBI, hang up first and then contact your local FBI office using the official number listed on their website. Also, if there’s an accusation, ask for official documentation and verify it through official channels.
3. Avoid Sharing Too Much Personal Information: Never share your sensitive personal information, like your Social Security number and bank details, too easily with anyone. Also, be careful with what you share online and on social media as scammers can use your information to make their claims more credible.

In summary, the Fake FBI scam can lead to significant financial loss. It works so well due to the impersonation of authority, use of urgency, sophisticated techniques like spoofing, emotional manipulation, and targeting the most vulnerable.

By being aware and taking proactive steps, you can reduce your chances of becoming a victim.