Full sweep conducted across all 9 mandatory sources — 2 qualifying findings.
✓ FTC Consumer Alerts
✓ FBI IC3
FCC — Clean
Action Fraud UK — Clean
CAFC Canada — Clean
Scamwatch Australia — Clean
AARP Fraud Watch — Clean
BBB Scam Tracker — Clean
econsumer.gov — Clean
Findings — September 21, 2026
// Critical Alert · Government Impersonation · September 17, 2026 — FBI IC3 PSA260917
FBI PSA: $1.6 Billion Lost to Government and Law Enforcement Impersonation — AI Deepfakes Now Used to Fake Officials on Video Calls
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center updated its public service announcement (PSA260917) on September 17, 2026, documenting that scammers impersonating US and foreign law enforcement officers and government officials have collected more than $1.6 billion from nearly 61,000 victims between January 2025 and July 2026. The scam now incorporates artificial intelligence technology to make the deception more convincing: threat actors use AI-generated video to appear as law enforcement or government officials in live video calls, sometimes wearing fake uniforms and using mock official facilities as backdrops. Victims are threatened with arrest, asset seizure, extradition, or cancellation of their passport unless they pay immediately — in cash, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards. A documented variant specifically targets people associated with foreign nations, threatening them with involvement in fabricated international investigations, generating 1,809 separate complaints and $140 million in documented losses in the same period.
How it starts
Unsolicited contact by phone, text, email, or video call from someone claiming to be a federal agent, police officer, customs official, or foreign diplomatic or law enforcement authority.
The threat
Victim is told they are under investigation, that their identity has been used in a crime, or that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. Immediate payment is demanded to "resolve" the matter and avoid arrest or legal consequences.
The AI upgrade
Scammers now use AI-generated deepfake video of real or fabricated senior officials appearing on live video calls, wearing fake uniforms, using mock sets resembling police facilities — adding a visual layer of apparent legitimacy that older phone-only impersonation lacked.
Foreign national variant
Scammers impersonating foreign police, embassies, or diplomatic authorities target people with ties to other countries, threatening extradition or cancellation of their home-country passport. $140 million in losses documented from 1,809 complaints in this variant alone.
Scale
Nearly 61,000 complaints to IC3 between January 2025 and July 2026. Total losses exceeded $1.6 billion. Consistent with imposter scams being the #1 reported fraud category for the ninth consecutive year (FTC 2025 data).
Why it's growing
AI video tooling has dramatically lowered the barrier to producing convincing impersonation. Scammers who previously relied only on a convincing voice and caller ID spoofing can now add a "face" the victim recognizes on a video call — a significant escalation in social engineering capability.
▶ How to Protect Yourself:
- No legitimate government agency will demand immediate payment by phone, video call, gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. The FBI, IRS, Social Security Administration, police, immigration authorities, and any legitimate government body do not operate this way. A demand for immediate payment of any kind is the defining signal of a scam — regardless of how official the caller sounds, looks on video, or what official-looking materials they share.
- If you receive this contact, hang up — then verify independently. Do not call back any number the caller gives you. Look up the agency's published number yourself (fbi.gov, irs.gov, your local police non-emergency line) and call that number to confirm whether any investigation or warrant actually exists. There will be none.
- A convincing face on a video call is not proof of identity. AI deepfake video can make anyone appear on a call. The real test is whether the contact fits the legitimate process: real law enforcement serves warrants in person through official channels, does not demand gift cards, and does not ask you to keep the matter secret from your family.
- If you feel threatened or pressured, call someone you trust before doing anything. Scammers create manufactured urgency and tell victims not to tell anyone — including family members — because they know a second opinion immediately breaks the deception. Tell a family member, call a friend, or call your local police before taking any action.
// High Alert · Marketplace Scams · September 15, 2026 — FTC Consumer Alert
FTC Alert: Fake Farm Equipment Websites Stealing Upfront Payments from Farmers — Equipment Never Arrives
The FTC confirmed on September 15, 2026 that scammers are impersonating legitimate farm equipment businesses by building convincing fake websites and online listings, collecting full payments or substantial deposits from farmers for tractors, implements, and other equipment — then disappearing without delivering anything. The scam targets a community that routinely makes large purchases through online channels and may have limited ability to verify sellers or inspect equipment before payment. Fraudulent sellers often copy the branding, contact details, and product listings of real agricultural equipment companies to make their sites appear legitimate.
How it works
Scammers build convincing fake websites impersonating real farm equipment dealers — copying logos, equipment photos, pricing, and contact information. Farmers find these sites through online searches or ads, place orders and make payment, then receive nothing. The site disappears or stops responding after payment is collected.
Who's targeted
Farmers purchasing tractors, implements, irrigation equipment, and other agricultural machinery online. Large purchase prices mean individual losses can be significant. The agricultural community's trust in established dealer names is specifically exploited.
Payment methods used
Fraudulent sellers typically request wire transfer, ACH bank transfer, or check — payment methods that offer limited fraud protection and are difficult to reverse once sent. Credit card payment requests are less common, likely because chargebacks offer consumer protection.
Why it's hard to spot
Modern website-cloning tools allow convincing replicas of legitimate dealer sites to be built quickly. Fake sites may appear in paid search results alongside the real dealer. Equipment purchases are often large and infrequent, so buyers may lack experience identifying fraudulent sites in this specific category.
▶ How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify the seller's physical address and phone number independently before any payment. Search for the equipment company's name directly (not through links on the site you found), find their official contact details on a separately verified source, and call them at a number you look up yourself to confirm the listing is real and the seller is legitimate.
- Call the manufacturer directly to confirm the dealer is authorized. Major farm equipment brands (John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota, etc.) maintain authorized dealer networks. A call to the manufacturer's dealer-finder line can confirm in minutes whether a listed dealer is genuine.
- Use a payment method with fraud protection. Credit card purchases offer chargeback protection that wire transfers and checks do not. If a seller refuses to accept credit card payment for a large purchase and insists on wire transfer, treat that as a significant warning sign.
- When in doubt, buy local or buy in person. Equipment purchases of significant value that you can inspect before payment dramatically reduce fraud risk and allow you to verify you are dealing with a legitimate business.