Impersonation Scam
A scam where someone pretends to be a police officer, government official, or authority figure to frighten you into paying or sharing personal information.
What Is This Scam?
A scam where someone pretends to be a police officer, government official, or authority figure to frighten you into paying or sharing personal information.
How This Scam Usually Works
- •You get a call or message from someone claiming to be police, a government agency, or a court.
- •They threaten arrest, fines, or legal action unless you act now.
- •They demand payment (often gift cards or crypto) or personal information.
- •They insist on secrecy so you don't verify with anyone.
- •Fear and urgency push you to comply before checking.
Common Warning Signs
- •Claims to be police/government
- •Threats of arrest
- •Demands payment or info
- •Urgency and secrecy
What Scammers Commonly Say
- “'There is a warrant for your arrest — pay a fine now.'
- “'This is the police/government — do not tell anyone.'
- “'Pay with gift cards / crypto to clear this up.'
- “'Confirm your identity with your SSN / National ID / OTP.'
Before You Act
Pause and check these before sending money, sharing details, or clicking anything.
- •Hang up and contact the agency through its official, publicly listed number.
- •Never pay a 'fine' or 'fee' by gift card or crypto.
- •Be suspicious of threats combined with secrecy demands.
- •Verify any legal claim independently before paying anything.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- ?Did they threaten arrest or legal action?
- ?Am I being told to keep this secret?
- ?Are they demanding payment by gift card or crypto?
- ?Did I verify the caller through an independent, official channel?
What You Should NOT Do
- ✕Do not pay any 'fine' or 'fee' by gift card or crypto to resolve a 'legal' matter.
- ✕Do not share your ID number, OTP, or passwords with the caller.
- ✕Do not keep it secret — talk to someone you trust and verify.
- ✕Do not stay on the line; hang up and verify independently.
What You Should Do Immediately
- •Hang up and contact the real agency through its official, publicly listed number.
- •If you paid, contact your bank to report and dispute the transaction.
- •If you shared identity details, place a fraud alert if available.
- •Save the call details, number, and any messages.
- •Report to your country's fraud authority.
What Evidence You Should Preserve
- •The phone number or contact that reached you
- •The name and agency they claimed to be
- •What they demanded and when
- •Payment records if you paid
- •Any messages or emails
Never upload passwords, OTPs, PINs, CVVs, seed phrases, or full banking credentials.
Payment / Account Protection Steps
- •Dispute any payment with your bank or card issuer.
- •Freeze or replace any card used.
- •Place a fraud alert on your identity file if ID details were shared.
Reporting Options
Report impersonation scams to your country's fraud authority and, if you shared identity details, place a fraud alert. Include the phone number, the agency they claimed to be, and what they demanded.
View Country Reporting GuideRecovery Considerations
Gift card and crypto payments are very hard to reverse; card payments may sometimes be disputed. Recovery is never guaranteed — act fast.
High Risk of Recovery Scam
Scam victims are often targeted again by fake “recovery agents.”
- Anyone claiming “We can recover your money for a small upfront fee” is almost certainly a scammer.
- Recovery is never guaranteed. No legitimate service charges an upfront fee to retrieve stolen funds.
- Scammers buy victim lists — expect fake “hackers”, “officials”, and “lawyers” to contact you.
How GoCheckAI Can Help
GoCheckAI helps you verify the right official contact, dispute payments, and report to the correct authority for your country.
GoCheckAI does not guarantee recovery, does not act as a recovery agent, and will never ask you to pay someone to recover funds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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