Phone scam patterns
Every pattern below is a documented scheme described by federal agencies — not user-submitted complaints about specific numbers. Each page lists the recognizable signs, the correct response, and where to report. If a suspicious call matches none of them, the universal rules still apply: never pay an inbound caller by gift card, wire or crypto, and verify through an independently found number.
| Pattern | In one line |
|---|---|
| Caller ID spoofing | The caller deliberately falsifies the number shown on your caller ID display to disguise their identity, often imitating a local number, a government agency, or a well-known company.. |
| Neighbor spoofing | A form of caller ID spoofing in which the falsified number matches your own area code and often your NXX prefix, so the call appears to come from a nearby household and feels safe to answer.. |
| One-ring (Wangiri) callback scam | Your phone rings once and stops. |
| IRS impersonation | A caller claims to be from the Internal Revenue Service, says you owe back taxes, and threatens arrest, deportation, or license revocation unless you pay immediately — typically by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.. |
| Social Security impersonation | The caller pretends to be from the Social Security Administration and claims your Social Security number has been suspended or linked to a crime, pressuring you to confirm the number or move money to 'protect' it.. |
| Tech support scam | A caller claims to be from Microsoft, Apple, or another tech company and says your computer is infected. |
| Family emergency ('grandparent') scam | The caller poses as a grandchild or other relative in trouble — an accident, an arrest abroad — or as a lawyer or officer calling on their behalf, and begs for urgent, secret payment. |
| Bank / fraud department impersonation | The caller pretends to be your bank's fraud department 'confirming suspicious activity'. |
| Medicare / health insurance scam | Callers pose as Medicare representatives offering new cards, back braces, genetic tests, or plan 'upgrades' to harvest Medicare numbers, which are then used for billing fraud.. |
| Utility shut-off scam | The caller claims to be from your electric, gas, or water company and threatens immediate disconnection unless an 'overdue balance' is paid within the hour, usually by prepaid card or payment app.. |
| Jury duty / warrant scam | A caller posing as a sheriff's deputy or court officer says you missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued, but the 'fine' can be paid by phone to avoid arrest.. |
| Prize / lottery / sweepstakes scam | You are told you won a lottery or sweepstakes — often one you never entered — but must first pay 'taxes' or 'fees' to claim the prize. |
| Fake debt collection | Callers try to collect debts you do not owe or that do not exist, using threats and refusing to provide written validation. |
| Auto warranty robocall | Prerecorded calls about your car's 'expiring warranty' push overpriced or worthless service contracts. |
| Charity fraud calls | Fundraising calls for fake charities, or for real-sounding causes where almost nothing reaches the beneficiaries. |
| Student loan 'forgiveness' scam | Callers promise loan forgiveness or special repayment programs for an upfront fee, or phish for your FSA ID — which lets them take over your federal student aid account.. |
| Package delivery callback scam | A call or voicemail claims a package could not be delivered and asks you to call back or 'press 1', leading to phishing for personal data or premium-rate charges. |
| Immigration (USCIS) impersonation | Callers impersonate USCIS or 'immigration officers', claim a problem with your status or paperwork, and demand payment or personal information under threat of deportation.. |
| Amazon / big-brand imposter robocall | A robocall claims a large purchase or suspicious activity on your Amazon (or other retailer) account and asks you to 'press 1' to dispute it, connecting you to an agent who harvests card and login data.. |