The FBI has issued a warning about a rise in scam calls where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money from victims.

These scammers use caller ID spoofing to make their calls appear legitimate, often posing as real officers or agencies. They typically claim the recipient is in legal trouble, such as alleging a package with illegal items was linked to their name, and demand immediate payment through methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to avoid arrest.

To protect yourself, the FBI advises skepticism toward calls demanding urgent payment or threatening arrest, especially if unusual payment methods are requested. Never share personal or financial information with unknown callers, and verify suspicious calls by independently contacting the agency using an official number.

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or local law enforcement.

The key takeaway is that legitimate law enforcement will not call to demand money or threaten arrest, so always verify the caller’s identity and stay cautious of urgent or threatening demands.