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Short answer: the Federal Trade Commission doesn’t call people to threaten to shut off their phone numbers, ask for money or demand secrecy. If someone claiming to be from the FTC does any of that, it’s a phone number scam. Hang up, don’t call back a number they give you, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. That’s the guidance in the FTC’s Oct. 22 consumer alert.
How this phone number scam works
The caller says they’re an FTC official. A phone registered under your name and number, they claim, is being used for scams in another country. The FTC says they may read out a fake badge ID and threaten to deactivate your number. Then they transfer you to a “police officer.” Sometimes they tell you to look up the police number yourself, but scammers answer that number.
The second caller in this phone number scam asks for your ID and personal information and tells you to keep the call secret. According to the FTC, they claim you’re under arrest and must go abroad unless you pay a security deposit. The pressure, the handoff and the secrecy are the signature of a government impersonation scam. See our guide to government impersonation scams and what to do if you paid.
What the FTC says it will never do
| A real FTC employee will never | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ask you to send money, or connect you to someone who does | Any payment request on a “government” call is a red flag |
| Threaten to disconnect your phone | The agency doesn’t control phone service |
| Tell you to keep the conversation secret | Secrecy stops you from checking with family or your bank |
| Text you a photo of an employee ID to “verify” identity | Fake badges are easy to produce |
Source: FTC consumer alert, Oct. 22, 2026. The “why it matters” column is our explanation, not the FTC’s wording.
What to do if you get the call
If you get a phone number scam call, end it without arguing. Don’t use any number the caller gave you, even one they say to “look up.” If you want to check, find the agency’s number yourself on its official website. Then report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. That’s the reporting point the alert names, and it lists no phone number to call.
The FTC’s page also links to a guide on avoiding government imposter scams. Already shared personal information or paid? Our recovery steps, in order explain how to contact your bank and protect your accounts. Texted versions of this phone number scam are covered in how to spot a scam text.
Editor’s take
Any call that mixes government, arrest and money is a phone number scam until proven otherwise. The proof has to come from a number you found yourself. Tell older relatives about the “keep it secret” rule, because it’s their cue to hang up.
