Slam the Scam Day, observed on March 5, 2026, was established by the Social Security Office of the Inspector General to highlight the dangers of government imposter scams—one of the most pervasive scams in the United States. This event is part of the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week. Organizations such as AMAC actively support these efforts throughout the year to help prevent scams. Notably, in 2025, impersonation scams rose by 148% and became a leading scam type, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. The fight against scams requires collaboration to foster a safer and more trustworthy environment for all.
How the Public Can Help Prevent Scams
Everyone is encouraged to take proactive steps to protect themselves and others. Key actions include:
- Recognizing signs of scams
- Staying informed about scam trends and information
- Knowing how to stop a scam
- Sharing scam information with friends and family
- Reporting scams to officials
Common Government Agencies Impersonated by Scammers
Scammers often impersonate government agencies to gain trust and deceive their victims. Some of the most frequently targeted agencies include:
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)
- Local Sheriff’s Office or Court Official
The Tactics Used by Impersonation Scammers
Scammers often impersonate government or law enforcement officials to exploit public trust. Although this is illegal, fraudsters still mask their identities and invent stories to deceive victims. For instance, a message claiming urgent action from a government agency may be a scam.
Mitigating Scam Risks: The CAKE Approach
While it is likely impossible to totally prevent all scammers from attempting to deceive individuals, following a structured four-step approach known as CAKE can help reduce risk. This method includes:
- Control access: Scammers frequently use calls, emails, texts, and social media to reach victims. Limiting access by not answering unfamiliar calls or responding to questionable messages is an effective way to stay safe.
- Assume it’s a scam: Be vigilant for red flags, such as unsolicited prizes, offers that seem too good to be true, or urgent government communications demanding immediate action. Legitimate agencies will not contact you unexpectedly with problems or demand money, nor will they threaten arrest or promise prizes.
- Keep info private: Scammers seek personal information and funds. Never share your personal or financial information with someone claiming to be from the government. It’s safe to assume that anyone initiating contact and asking or digging for information is a scammer.
- End contact: If you suspect someone is attempting to scam you, cease all communication. With advances in technology, scammers can appear convincing, so it is important to remain cautious and end contact with suspicious individuals. Do NOT worry about appearing rude. Your safety is top priority. Hang up or report and block the sender.
Examples of people about to be scammed
- Scam #1: Christopher receives an email that appears to come from the IRS. The email is formatted to look official and states that a $500 overpayment was made on his previous year’s tax return. The email requests his bank account information to process the refund. Christopher is prepared to provide his details to claim the refund.
- Scam #2: Lynda gets an urgent text message claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The text warns her that someone else is using her Social Security Number and that she must take immediate action or she will be held financially responsible for taxes resulting from the misuse. The message instructs her to click a link to verify her Social Security Number, and she is about to do so.
- Scam #3: Nathaniel receives a phone call from someone stating they are from the National Sweepstake Board. He is asked to remain on the line to speak with an official about winning a prize. The caller ID displays the organization’s name, so Nathaniel feels confident and continues the call.
- Scam #4: Courtney gets an email that looks like it is from Medicare. The message claims that her benefits will be suspended or terminated unless she pays a fee up front by wire transfer. She is ready to send the payment to resolve the issue.
Understanding these scams
The above four people are about to be scammed. Here are signs that something is wrong:
- Scam #1: The IRS does not contact individuals by email regarding tax overpayments. This message is a scam. Additionally, the IRS will never request bank account information or similar sensitive details through email.
- Scam #2: The Social Security Administration does not conduct sensitive business by text message. This approach is a scam. They will not threaten you or direct you to click on a link. Importantly, clicking on suspicious links can expose your IP address, trigger malware downloads, or redirect you to fake websites created to steal your login credentials and financial information. Slam the Scam by spreading the word.
- Scam #3: According to South Dakota Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection, the National Sweepstake Board is not a real organization. The call is a scam. Many scammers use fake names or spoof caller IDs to misrepresent their identity, making it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate source.
- Scam #4: Medicare does not contact people unexpectedly by email. This is a scam. Medicare will also not call or text you for personal information or payments. Additionally, requests for unusual payment methods, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, or cash courier pickups, are red flags of scams.
Commonalities
What the four scam examples have in common:
- A sudden initiation of contact by an “official organization”
- A conflict requiring immediate resolution
- A prompt for immediate action (sharing personal information, clicking a link, holding the line, paying a fee)
Scammers are crooks wanting to steal your identity or funds. Seniors are at increased risk of scams, particularly imposter and investment scams designed to steal retirees’ savings. Therefore, it is vital to keep your guard up and follow CAKE.
How to protect yourself from scams
Following CAKE (Control access, Assume it’s a scam, Keep info private, End contact) gives you the power to stay safe from scams. Control access by not responding to questionable calls, emails, and texts. If red flags are present, or you get a gut feeling that something is off, Assume it’s a scam and do not engage. Always Keep your information private. Organizations, even government agencies you recognize as trustworthy, will not randomly reach out to you via email, text, or phone call regarding sudden issues. Those are scams. And, lastly, End contact with anyone who might be attempting to scam you. Know that it’s okay to hang up on suspicious callers and stop responding to potential scammers. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Slam the scam by reporting it
If you feel threatened, unsafe, or scared due to a scam, call 9-1-1.
If you’re facing a scam, or have fallen victim to a scam, report it to the relevant agencies. Never feel embarrassed to report a scam. The agencies listed below will thoroughly investigate, stop fraudsters, attempt to recover losses, and protect others from similar scams. These agencies also track trends to identify new types of fraud and improve public safety.
How to protect yourself from impersonation scams & other types of fraud
Not sure what to do?
Visit: https://www.usa.gov/where-report-scams to find the best agency or organization to report the scam. Questions only take 1-2 minutes to complete. They will: 1) ask where the scam took place 2) identify the scam category 3) gain more details 4) provide steps to report the scam.
Here are other main agencies for reporting scams:
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ – The FTC is the primary agency for consumer fraud, scams, bad business practices, and unwanted calls.
Oig.ssa.gov or 1-800-269-0271 (10 am to 2 pm Monday through Friday excluding Federal Holidays) – Use these contacts to report Social Security fraud, waste, or abuse to the Office of the Inspector General.
https://www.ic3.gov/ – The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center is for reporting cyber-enabled crimes, phishing, and online fraud.
IdentityTheft.gov – This is for the reporting of identity theft including financial account takeover, new credit/loan applications, tax fraud, medical identity theft, and utility/service fraud.
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is for reporting issues with financial products or services like banking, loans, and credit.
https://www.econsumer.gov/?lang=en-US – In partnership with the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), people can report international scams.
https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/lookupscam – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) allows people to check a scam, report a scam, and protect themselves.
State Attorney General’s Office – Your State Attorney General’s office also provides consumer protection against businesses under their state’s unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws.
Impersonation scams related to any of the above agencies should be promptly reported to that organization.
Disclosure: This article is purely informational and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
I had a friend about 20 years ago who fell victim to a scammer for $10,000 supposedly owed to the IRS. He said that the IRS contacted him by phone. I told him that the IRS will only communicate to you by letter, never a phone call. He did not believe me and was relieved of that $10,000 forever.
And I had a call today, supposedly from Bank of America claiming a woman in Canada had tried using my card to buy a plane ticket of over $1000 but couldn’t answer the verifications. She had my name and part of the card number. But, she wanted me to give here the complete number and go through more verifications which I refused to do. After about 5 minutes, which is too much time, I told her she should have all of that information, and I wasn’t giving her anymore. She even gave me her name, Employee ID#, and the phone # to call her back – if I changed my mind. Since I have had to deal with this type of issue previously, I knew it wasn’t legit. I immediately called Bank of America and spoke to a gentleman in the United States who assured me I did the right thing and that it absolutely was a scam. Beware! If it is a credit card company, they identify themselves right up front and don’t ask for card numbers, exp, dates, etc.
The only reason I answered the call was that I was expecting a different call from someone else. Typically, if the incoming number is not programmed into my phone, I don’t answer…..
These scammers now can now fake any numbers and you think it is a company you know well. I am getting calls from my medical service, familiar companies, etc. I pick up the phone and say hello. Their first words are “can you hear me”? My son told me to never say “yes”, but to answer with a question like “who’s calling?” Never say “yes”. The minute I hear that first question I hang up. Especially when the caller can barely speak English. I just hang up or don’t answer. I have an answering machine and I figure that since all my friends know my habits they will leave a message. Scammers don’t leave messages. This is getting to be a scary world. It’s best to just not answer the phone.
You can buy Home Phones with White Lists , only the numbers you program into it will be allowed threw , the rest will be blocked . Your Phone will not ring , will not light up you will not be disturbed .