By Eric Strand · October 2, 2026
Quick answer: If a supposed FBI agent demands money, stop the conversation and verify independently. A name, caller ID, or official-looking video meeting is not enough. Use FBI.gov’s field-office directory or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
An FBI scam call can feel convincing when the caller knows personal details or claims you must act immediately. The useful next step is to establish who contacted you through an official channel you choose yourself.
What the FBI reported about fake calls and video meetings
In its September 29, 2026 warning, FBI Newark describes impersonators using real agents’ names and spoofed field-office numbers. One reported example involved a video meeting staged to resemble an FBI office, with a seal, desk, and a suited man.
The warning discusses victim reports but does not identify the perpetrators or give a deduplicated victim total. It documents the technique; it does not establish that every unexpected agency call is fraudulent.
How to verify whether an FBI agent actually contacted you
- End the incoming call or meeting. Pause any payment or disclosure while you verify. Do not accept a transfer arranged by the caller as your independent check.
- Find the office yourself. Open the official FBI field-office directory and dial the listed number. It provides offices and their coverage areas. For Newark, the directory lists (973) 792-3000.
- Explain the suspected impersonation. Ask the office to confirm the contact, not just the agent’s employment. Give the claimed name, call time, and a brief description of the request.
- If you cannot reach the office, use another official route. Newark’s warning directs readers to 1-800-CALL-FBI. An unanswered call does not make the original approach genuine.
A useful way to phrase your question: “Someone using this agent’s name contacted me. I suspect impersonation. Can you help confirm whether that agent actually contacted me about this matter?”
The distinction matters: a correct name can answer who works there without answering who was on your call. You do not need to decide from the voice, appearance, or confidence of the person making the demand.
Warning signs that should stop a payment
The FBI’s official contact page says it will not call or email private citizens asking them to move money by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid cards.
- Payment under threat: a demand to send money immediately to avoid arrest or another consequence.
- Unusual payment instructions: gift-card codes, cryptocurrency, or a transfer to an account supplied by the caller.
- Personal-information pressure: requests for financial details before you have independently verified the contact.
- Caller ID offered as proof: instructions to trust the displayed agency name or number.
These are general patterns described in the FTC’s government-impersonation guidance. They are not a claim that each appeared in the Newark video-call example. The FTC also warns that scammers may know your name or address and may provide an employee ID to sound credible.
What to save, where to report, and what to do after paying
Preserve the information you already have: call times, displayed and callback numbers, claimed names, messages, meeting invitations, screenshots, and payment receipts. Keep original files where possible and share sensitive evidence through official reporting channels.
Newark specifically recommends submitting photos or video evidence of a fraudulent virtual meeting to tips.fbi.gov. Collect evidence only if it is safe; you do not need to remain in or rejoin a threatening meeting.
- Report the impersonation: use the FBI tip website or your field office.
- Report internet-enabled fraud: the FBI directs online scam reports to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- If money was sent: contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, wire service, or cryptocurrency provider immediately. Explain the fraud and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or recovered.
- If credentials were shared: change the affected password through the genuine service and turn on two-factor authentication. Change reused passwords too.
- If personal information was exposed: use IdentityTheft.gov for steps suited to your situation.
The FTC’s recovery guide covers payment methods, compromised accounts, and device access. If you installed software or allowed remote access, follow its security-check guidance and get help from a trusted support provider.
Immediate danger: the FBI instructs people facing an emergency to call 911 or local police. An online tip is not an emergency response request.
FBI scam call FAQs
Tap a question to expand the answer.
Does matching the FBI’s real phone number prove the call is legitimate?
No. Caller ID can be spoofed. Dial a number you found independently on FBI.gov rather than using the incoming call’s callback button.
The office confirmed the agent works there. Have I finished verifying?
No. Ask the office to help confirm whether that agent actually contacted you about the matter. Confirming employment does not authenticate the caller.
Can an FBI-looking video background prove the person is an agent?
No. The Newark warning describes a staged office scene. A seal, desk, or professional appearance is not independent identity verification.
What if the caller already knows my address or other personal details?
That information does not establish identity. The FTC warns that government impersonators may already know your name or address. Verify independently before providing anything else.
Should I click a meeting link or open a document they send?
Do not use unexpected links or attachments to verify the sender. Start with the agency’s official contact information. A professional-looking invitation or document still needs independent confirmation.
Where should I report a fake FBI video meeting?
Use the FBI’s tip website for information about the impersonation and IC3 for internet-enabled fraud. Preserve existing invitations, messages, screenshots, and payment records. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Can reporting the scam guarantee I get my money back?
No. Contact the bank, payment app, card issuer, or other payment provider immediately and ask what recovery options remain. Reporting is useful, but it does not guarantee a reversal.
Related TIAS warnings
If the supposed agent offers to recover lost money in exchange for an upfront payment, read our advance-fee scam guide for the warning signs of pay-first recovery schemes.
If the caller claims you missed jury duty or must pay to clear a warrant, see our jury-duty scam and fake arrest-warrant guide.
TIAS is an independent consumer-information site and is not affiliated with the FBI. Sources were checked on October 2, 2026. This guide cannot authenticate an individual caller.
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