FBI Warns South Florida Residents of Rise in Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams

The FBI Miami Field Office is warning South Florida residents about a rise in phone scams involving callers posing as federal law enforcement officers.

Over the past several weeks, residents in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have reported receiving calls from individuals demanding money or instructing them to help with a supposed federal investigation against a bank. In some cases, scammers used phone apps to alter their voices and spoof caller ID information to make the calls appear legitimate.

“These calls are fraudulent, and recipients should hang up immediately,” the FBI said. “Federal agencies do not call or email individuals threatening arrest, demanding payment, or requesting the use of personal funds as bait for an investigation.”

The scams, which have been reported nationwide for years, continue to target unsuspecting victims with threats and intimidation. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 1,579 Florida residents reported government impersonation scams in 2024, with estimated losses of more than $12 million.

The FBI advises the public to exercise caution when answering calls from unfamiliar numbers and to refrain from providing personal information, including Social Security numbers, to unknown callers. Officials emphasized that the FBI will never:

• Call or email private citizens to demand payment or threaten arrest.
• Ask individuals to use their own money to assist in catching criminals.
• Request funds through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid gift cards.
• Claim to freeze Social Security numbers or arrange inheritances.
• Ask individuals to withdraw money and meet at a location.

Fraudulent emails are another tool used by scammers, sometimes featuring the FBI seal, letterhead or even the director’s photo. Authorities said common warning signs of scam emails include misspellings, missing words and incorrect grammar.

Anyone who receives a suspected scam call or email should cease all contact, notify their financial institutions, and file a report with local law enforcement. Complaints may also be filed with the FBI at ic3.gov.

More information about government impersonation and other online fraud schemes is available at fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes.

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