Federal Authorities Warn of Fraudsters Impersonating Prosecutors and Law Enforcement

Federal authorities are warning Americans about an ongoing scam in which fraudsters pose as prosecutors or federal law enforcement agents in an effort to steal money and personal information.

According to the FBI, a scammer or group of scammers—potentially operating outside the United States—has been contacting people nationwide by phone, email, and text message. The individuals falsely claim the recipient is either a victim or a suspect in a fraud investigation and then attempt to pressure them into handing over money or sensitive financial details.

“These fraudsters are capitalizing on fear and intimidation because nobody wants to be the victim of a crime or the subject of a law enforcement investigation,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “The FBI will actively pursue and charge those who participate in such criminal activity.”

U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes also emphasized that legitimate federal authorities will never demand money or banking information from citizens.

“Fraudsters will go to great lengths to steal money from people who, in this case, believe they are dutifully complying with lawful requests by law enforcement or prosecutors,” Keyes said. “No one in the U.S. attorney’s office will contact a citizen with demands for bank account information and money. If you receive a similar call or email, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov immediately.”

The FBI says in this specific scam, impostors claim to be federal agents or prosecutors and tell recipients they are connected to a fraud case. Victims may be instructed to provide personal identifying information, credit card numbers, or payment through wire transfers or prepaid cards.

Authorities stress that federal law enforcement agencies do not contact victims or suspects of crimes and ask for money or personal information over the phone or through electronic messages.

To avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam, federal officials recommend:

• Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, text messages, or emails.

• Never give money or personal information to someone you do not know or did not contact first.

• Trust your instincts—if a caller pressures you or the situation feels wrong, hang up.

• If claims seem concerning, independently verify the information with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court.

  
  

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized by a scam is encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, including details about the contact and any available caller ID information.

Authorities say public awareness remains one of the strongest defenses against fraud schemes like this one.