Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a warning to Floridians about the prevalence of government imposter scams on the fifth annual National Slam the Scam Day. The Federal Trade Commission revealed that consumers fell victim to $2.7 billion in imposter scams in 2023, with many scammers impersonating government agencies to deceive individuals into divulging personal and financial information.
Moody emphasized the importance of vigilance, stating, “On the fifth annual Slam the Scam Day, I am warning Floridians about government imposter scams. Fraudsters may pose as Social Security officials or other government representatives to trick targets into handing over money or personal information. Know that government agencies will not call, email or text you and ask for money—only a scammer will do that.”
These scams typically involve scammers posing as government officials and contacting potential victims with false claims that information or money is required to complete an action. For instance, individuals may receive calls from imposters pretending to be Social Security Administration officials, threatening the termination of benefits unless payment is made. The impersonation of officials from entities like the Internal Revenue Service, FTC, and local law enforcement agencies is also common in these schemes, with scammers demanding payment or sensitive personal information under the guise of fines or legal consequences.
To help individuals avoid falling victim to these imposter schemes, the FTC recommends taking precautions such as not trusting caller ID, refraining from wiring money or using gift cards to pay purported government representatives, verifying the authenticity of calls by contacting the office directly, and avoiding clicking on links in unexpected communications claiming to be from government agencies.
In the event of encountering government imposter scams or other fraudulent activities, individuals are encouraged to report such incidents by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.
The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to keep Floridians informed about emerging scams and deceptive practices, aiming to prevent financial losses or harm caused by fraudulent activities. Individuals are advised to report any scams they encounter to the Florida Attorney General's Office for further action.