The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, Kurt L. Wall, is joining national efforts to raise awareness about government and business imposter scams. This initiative coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting a significant problem that saw the FTC receive over 375,000 reports of government imposter scams in 2025, resulting in reported losses of $917 million.
Scammers often pose as officials from well-known businesses or government agencies like the FBI or FTC, creating urgent, fabricated emergencies to pressure victims into quick action. They typically instruct individuals to "protect" their money by transferring it to new accounts, depositing it into "government accounts" or crypto ATMs, or handing cash or gold to a courier. "No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will," Wall said.
These deceptive tactics can also involve claims of a "suspended Social Security number" or eligibility for government benefits. Imposters go to great lengths to appear legitimate, using fake caller IDs, official-looking letters, or even displaying counterfeit employee IDs or badges to convince victims of their authority.
To avoid falling victim, the public is advised to remember that government officials will "Never ever" say, "Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it." They will also never threaten to suspend benefits for immediate payment or demand payment via apps, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards. Individuals concerned about account issues or identity theft should consult a trusted person and report any imposter scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.