Scammers are calling New Englanders while pretending to be the FBI or other agencies to extort money or steal personal data, officials announced last week.
Federal agencies do not threaten arrest or demand immediate payment by phone.
Spoofed caller ID doesn’t make a call legit—hang up
How the scam sounds
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Urgent tone: “Charges have been filed… pay now or be arrested.”
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Threats: property seized, bank accounts frozen, immediate arrest.
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Payment demands: gift/prepaid cards, wire transfers, cash by mail, crypto ATMs—sometimes with orders to keep it secret.
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Pushback = more aggression, plus bogus “fees” or “court costs.”
By the numbers (2024)
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U.S.: 17,367 victims; $405.6 million lost.
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FBI Boston Division (ME, MA, NH, RI): 778 complaints; $12.95 million lost.— MA: 507 victims / $9.51 million • NH: 106 / $1.65 million • ME: 98 / $1.64 million • RI: 67 / $0.15 million
The FBI will never
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Call/email to demand payment, threaten arrest, or seek personal/sensitive info.
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Ask for prepaid cards, wires, crypto ATMs, or to liquidate assets (cash, gold, silver).
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Ask you to spend your own money to “help catch a criminal.”
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Call about “frozen” Social Security numbers or surprise inheritances.
What to do
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Hang up. Do not pay. Do not share info.
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Verify independently: look up the agency’s official number and call back.
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Report it: IC3.gov and your local police.
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Warn others—scammers prey on fear and speed; slow down and verify.
Scams impersonating the FBI and other government agencies are a persistent problem and can also occur via email.
Common hallmarks of a scam email include misspellings, missing words, and incorrect grammar. Fraudulent emails may give the appearance of legitimacy by using pictures of the FBI Director and/or the FBI seal and letterhead.
If you are a victim, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.