What are the red flags?

A caller claiming to be from the FTC says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams in another country; A threat to deactivate or disconnect your phone number if you don't cooperate; A caller who reads off a badge ID or texts a photo of an employee ID to "verify" who they are; Being transferred to a "police officer," or told exactly what to search online to find the police number to call back; Being told to keep the conversation secret; A demand for money, such as a "security deposit," to avoid arrest or travel to another country.

What should I do if I clicked, paid, or replied?

Hang up. The FTC says a real FTC employee will never ask you to send money, connect you to someone who says to send money, or threaten to disconnect your phone; Don't share your ID or other personal information with the caller; Don't call back a number the caller told you to search for; that number can lead back to the scammers; Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

← Back to search

Government impersonationPhoneSMS

Fake FTC calls threatening to deactivate your phone number

Q: What does the Fake FTC calls threatening to deactivate your phone number scam look like?

Yes, it's a scam: the FTC says a real FTC employee will never threaten to disconnect your phone, ask you to send money, or tell you to keep your conversations secret. According to an Oct. 22, 2026 FTC consumer alert, someone claiming to be an FTC official calls to say a phone was registered under your name and number and is being used to commit scams in another country. The caller reads off a fake badge ID and threatens to deactivate your phone number if you don't cooperate. To make the story sound real, they transfer you to a fake police officer to file a report, or have you call the "police department" back after telling you what to search online to find the number, and people involved in the scam answer. They ask for your ID and other personal information, tell you to keep everything secret, and later claim you're under arrest for the scams tied to your number and have to go to another country unless you send money for a security deposit. The FTC says none of this is true.

Last updated Oct 23, 2026

Also known as: FTC phone number deactivation call, Fake FTC official with badge ID, Phone registered in your name used for scams call

The Scam

According to an Oct. 22, 2026 FTC consumer alert, someone claiming to be an FTC official calls to say a phone was registered under your name and number and is being used to commit scams in another country. The caller reads off a fake badge ID and threatens to deactivate your phone number if you don't cooperate. To make the story sound real, they transfer you to a fake police officer to file a report, or have you call the "police department" back after telling you what to search online to find the number, and people involved in the scam answer. They ask for your ID and other personal information, tell you to keep everything secret, and later claim you're under arrest for the scams tied to your number and have to go to another country unless you send money for a security deposit. The FTC says none of this is true.

The Targets

Anyone with a phone number.

Red flags

A caller claiming to be from the FTC says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams in another country
A threat to deactivate or disconnect your phone number if you don't cooperate
A caller who reads off a badge ID or texts a photo of an employee ID to "verify" who they are
Being transferred to a "police officer," or told exactly what to search online to find the police number to call back
Being told to keep the conversation secret
A demand for money, such as a "security deposit," to avoid arrest or travel to another country

Your Move

Hang up. The FTC says a real FTC employee will never ask you to send money, connect you to someone who says to send money, or threaten to disconnect your phone
Don't share your ID or other personal information with the caller
Don't call back a number the caller told you to search for; that number can lead back to the scammers
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

More steps for any scam link: I clicked a scam link. What now?

Still circulating?

The FTC described this on Oct. 22, 2026 as the latest twist on FTC impersonator scams.

Primary source: FTC Consumer Alert · 2026-10-22

Related sources

FBI IC3 — Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials (Sep 17, 2026)

Similar scams

Fake EBT "transaction declined at Walmart" text targeting SNAP recipients Government impersonation / benefits
Fake "unclaimed relief check" calls and texts Government impersonation / phishing
Government / Social Security impersonator scams Government impersonation
Callers posing as police who text you barcodes or QR codes to load with money Government impersonation / payment scam

Educational summary only. Verify details on the source page. Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov.