TalkScams Team · Source-backed educational guide · Not a community report
Government impostor threatens arrest unless you pay by phone
Fraudulent calls can imitate police or government offices and create fear of an imminent arrest or fine. Pressure and official-looking caller ID are not evidence that a payment demand is legitimate.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center · Original advisory date: 2026-09-17
This summary is not a firsthand report or an endorsement or partnership by the source.
Warning signs to recognize
- An unverified caller threatens legal trouble unless money is sent immediately.
- The contact creates urgency and asks you to use its link or callback number
How to check or protect yourself
- Do not pay; independently contact the stated agency and preserve call details.
- Report and delete unwanted texts; preserve evidence if funds or data were exposed
Read the original FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center advisory