FTC Warns of Phone Number Deactivation Impersonation Scam

Scammers are calling Americans while pretending to be Federal Trade Commission officials, then threatening to deactivate the person’s phone number. The story is designed to frighten households into sharing identification and other personal information—and eventually sending money, according to FTC Consumer Advice.

What happened

The caller claims that a phone was registered using the target’s name and number and is now being used for scams in another country. To appear legitimate, the impersonator may provide a supposed FTC badge number, but the FTC says that badge is fake.

The scam can become more elaborate. The fake FTC official may transfer the call to someone posing as a police officer so the target can supposedly file a report. If the target hesitates, the scammers may instruct the person to search online for a police department’s number and call it directly. According to the FTC, that apparent verification is still controlled by people participating in the scam.

The fake officer asks for identification and other personal details for the supposed report. The scammers also tell the target to keep the situation secret. Later, they claim the person faces arrest and must travel to another country because of crimes linked to the phone number. The target is then told that sending money as a security deposit can resolve the supposed problem.

The FTC has not disclosed how many people have received these calls, how much money may have been lost or whether particular states or phone carriers are being targeted.

Who is affected

Anyone who receives an unexpected call claiming that the FTC will deactivate their phone number could be targeted. The warning is especially important for people who may respond quickly to threats involving arrest, overseas crime or loss of phone service.

A caller knowing your name or phone number does not make the story legitimate. A badge number, a transfer to a supposed officer or instructions for finding a police number online are all parts of the scheme described by the FTC.

What to do now

1. End the call. Do not continue the conversation when someone claiming to represent the FTC threatens to deactivate your number or have you arrested.

2. Do not follow the caller’s verification instructions. Avoid calling a police number that the impersonator tells you to search for. The FTC says people working with the scam may answer that call.

3. Keep your information private. Do not provide a driver’s license, other identification or personal details for the caller’s supposed police report.

4. Do not send a security deposit. The demand for money to avoid arrest or travel to another country is part of the scam described by the FTC.

5. Report the call and alert your household. Open the FTC alert linked above and select its ReportFraud.ftc.gov link to submit a report. Tell family members about the fake badge, police transfer and secrecy demand so they recognize the same approach if called.