FBI Warns of Scammers Posing as Federal Agents With Fake Phone Numbers
The FBI warned on November 2 about scammers who pose as federal agents and fake official phone numbers to steal money, a trick that often targets older adults. Simple habits, like hanging up and calling the agency back on a number you look up yourself, can keep you safe.
Federal investigators are warning about a phone scam that often targets older adults. On November 2, the FBI's Honolulu office put out an alert, reported by the news outlet Maui Now, about criminals who pretend to be federal law enforcement agents in order to steal money.
What makes this version hard to catch is how real it looks. The FBI says scammers are spoofing, or faking, the official phone numbers of federal field offices. They also use the names of real agents, along with made up names, to sound convincing. When a worried person tries to call the office back to check, the faked number can make it seem like the real agency is on the line.
The trick has gone even further in some cases. The FBI described one report in which a scammer joined a video call with a background staged to look like a government office, complete with official looking decor and a person dressed in business clothes. These touches are meant to lower your guard so you will hand over money or personal details.
The scammers pose as agents from the FBI, the DEA, and the Secret Service. A common pitch is to claim your identity was used in a crime, then press you to pay to clear it up. In a public alert, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that from January 2025 through July 2026 it received nearly 61,000 complaints about law enforcement and government impersonation scams, with losses of more than 1.6 billion dollars. The FBI says real agents will never call to demand payment, and will never ask to be paid with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash handed to a courier.
A few habits keep you safe. If someone calls claiming to be a federal agent, do not send money or share personal information. Hang up and look up the agency's official number yourself instead of trusting the number on your screen. You can report these calls to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at ic3.gov. If a caller pressures you to act fast, treat that rush as a warning sign.
Go Deeper
Who issued the warning and when?
The FBI's Honolulu office issued the alert on November 2, 2026, as reported by Maui Now, and it echoes a national FBI warning from its Internet Crime Complaint Center.
How does the scam work?
Criminals fake the real phone numbers of federal agencies and use agents' names, and some even set up video calls with fake government office backgrounds.
How big is the problem?
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported nearly 61,000 complaints about these impersonation scams from January 2025 through July 2026, with losses topping 1.6 billion dollars.
What will a real agent never do?
Real agents will not call to demand payment and will never ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash handed to a courier.
How can I protect myself?
Hang up, look up the agency's official number yourself, and report the call to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at ic3.gov.
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