Member guide · Read a preview, full guide with Personal

Fake government benefit and pension calls: how to spot them

A call, text or email says your Social Security number is suspended, your Centrelink payment is on hold or your pension needs updating? How government benefits impersonation scams work, what real agencies don’t do, and what to do if you paid.

Check yourself or someone else

See what’s online about a photo, phone number or email. Check your own to see what others can find, or check someone you’re talking to.

See what’s online about a phone number: yours, or one that’s contacting you.

We look up the number type, carrier and country, and any scam reports from other people. We don’t save what you enter. Up to 10 checks a day.

Got a suspicious email? See where it really came from

Paste the email’s headers to see the real sending server, country and sender checks.

✉️ Check email headers

Calls from people pretending to be government agencies are among the most costly impersonation scams. In 2025, the FBI’s IC3 received 32,424 government impersonation complaints, up from 17,367 the year before, with reported losses of almost US$798 million (FBI IC3 2025). Older people on pensions and benefits are frequent targets. This guide covers what these calls sound like and how to check calmly.

What these calls and texts sound like

  • “Your Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity.”
  • “Your Centrelink payment is on hold. Update your details at this link.”
  • “You’re owed a cost-of-living or pension payment. Confirm your bank account to receive it.”
  • “There’s a warrant for your arrest unless you pay today.”
  • “Move your savings to a ‘safe’ account while we investigate.”

Unlock the full guide with ImposterWatch Personal, US$9/mo

Members read every guide in full, plus get breach and dark web alerts for up to three email addresses, an AI-powered romance scam check every month, and account recovery help.

Get Personal, US$9/mo Already a member? Log in

Not ready? Get scam alerts

Signing up doesn’t unlock this guide. See our privacy policy.

What real agencies don’t do

  • The US Social Security Administration says it won’t threaten arrest, suspend your number, demand immediate payment, or ask for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or cash by mail (SSA).
  • Services Australia publishes current scams pretending to be myGov, Medicare and Centrelink, and advises accessing your account directly rather than through links (Services Australia).
  • In the UK, contact the Department for Work and Pensions through official contact details on GOV.UK if you’re unsure about a benefit message.
  • No genuine agency asks you to move money to protect it.

How to check

  1. Hang up, and wait a minute before using your phone again in case the line is held open.
  2. Log in directly through the official app or a website address you type yourself.
  3. Or call the agency on the number from its official website.
  4. Check the number that called you with the phone tab above.

If you paid or shared details

  1. Call your bank immediately and ask about stopping or recalling the payment.
  2. If you paid by gift card, contact the card company with the card number and receipt.
  3. If you shared ID numbers, use IdentityTheft.gov (US) or IDCARE (Australia and NZ).
  4. Report it to the agency: in the US the SSA Office of the Inspector General; in Australia Services Australia.
  5. Beware of follow-up calls offering to recover your money for a fee (FTC).

Where to report it

Similar scams pretend to be the tax office: see our guide to fake tax office calls and texts. ImposterWatch Personal (US$9/month, cancel anytime) adds AI-powered checks and account recovery help.

Questions

Can Social Security suspend my number?

The SSA says it won’t threaten you with arrest or legal action, suspend your Social Security number, or demand immediate payment. If a caller says any of these things, it’s a scam.

Does Centrelink send texts with links?

Services Australia warns about texts and emails that pretend to be from myGov, Medicare and Centrelink. Don’t use links in messages; open the myGov app or type my.gov.au yourself.

The caller ID showed the agency’s real number. Is it genuine?

Caller ID can be faked to show any number. Hang up and call the agency on a number from its official website.

I gave my Social Security or tax file number to a caller. What now?

Act straight away. In the US, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. In Australia, contact Services Australia’s Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk and IDCARE.

They said a government agent would visit me. Should I worry?

Real agencies don’t threaten visits to collect payment. Lock the door, don’t hand over money or cards, and report it to the police.

Check the number that called you

Paste the caller’s number into the check at the top of this page to see its country, line type and reports from other people. ImposterWatch Personal (US$9/month, cancel anytime) adds AI-powered checks, breach alerts for up to three email addresses and account recovery help.

Check a numberGet Personal for US$9/month, cancel anytime

More guides

General information only, not legal or financial advice. ImposterWatch is operated by Cloud Investments FZE (UAE) and is not a background check or private investigator service.