Government, Tax & Benefits
People pretending to be the IRS, Social Security, or a benefits office.
'Government Grant' Social Media DM Scam
A message — often from a hacked friend — says you qualify for free government grant money and asks for a fee or your account login to 'process' it.
Read the guide →Court / Traffic Fine E-Summons Scam
A fake court summons or traffic ticket arrives by email or text with a link to 'view' or 'pay' — the page steals your details and money.
Read the guide →DMV 'Final Notice' Text Scam
A text impersonating your state DMV warns of a 'final notice,' suspension, or unpaid fee and links to a fake payment or verification page.
Read the guide →Fake Census / Government Survey Data Harvest
A fake census or government survey asks for sensitive details it would never request — like your SSN, bank account, or money.
Read the guide →IRS Refund Verification Scam
A message says you have a tax refund waiting and must 'verify' your information to release it — a phishing grab for your SSN and bank details.
Read the guide →IRS Scams
Callers or messages pretending to be the IRS, threatening arrest unless you pay taxes immediately.
Read the guide →Jury Duty 'Failure to Appear' Warrant Scam
A caller posing as a sheriff says you missed jury duty and there is a warrant for your arrest — pay a fine immediately by gift card or wire to avoid jail.
Read the guide →Medicare 'New Card / Flagged Account' Scam
A caller claims your Medicare account is flagged or that a new card is ready, and asks for your Medicare or Social Security number to 'verify.'
Read the guide →Social Security Scams
Calls claiming your Social Security number was suspended or linked to a crime, demanding action or payment.
Read the guide →Stimulus / Relief Payment 'Claim Now' Scam
A message says you qualify for a stimulus or relief payment and must click to 'claim' it, harvesting your identity and bank details.
Read the guide →Student Loan Forgiveness Impersonation
A caller or message impersonates the Department of Education or your servicer and charges a fee to 'enroll' you in loan forgiveness that is actually free to apply for.
Read the guide →Unemployment Benefits Phishing / Fraudulent Claims
Fake state unemployment messages phish your login and identity, or criminals file jobless claims in your name and redirect the money.
Read the guide →Utility Assistance / Grant Scam
A scammer offers help paying your utility bills through a 'government program' or grant, then asks for a fee or your account details up front.
Read the guide →
Not sure which one you’ve got?
Paste the message into ScamSplainand we’ll tell you what it looks like.