FBI ALBANY WARNS OF SCAMMERS SPOOFING FIELD OFFICE PHONE NUMBER IN GOVERNMENT IMPERSONATION SCHEME

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office is warning the public about a recent increase in government impersonation scams in which criminals are spoofing the office’s legitimate main telephone number to make fraudulent calls appear to originate directly from the FBI.

The scheme combines bank impersonation, caller ID spoofing, and false claims of an active federal investigation to convince victims they are speaking with legitimate financial institution representatives and FBI agents.

The scam typically begins when a caller posing as a representative of a bank or other financial institution contacts the intended victim and claims the person’s identity or financial information has been used to open an unauthorized account and purchase a firearm.

The caller then offers to transfer the victim to an alleged FBI agent who is supposedly investigating the fraudulent activity. During the second stage of the scheme, FBI Albany’s legitimate main telephone number, 518-465-7551, appears on the victim’s caller ID, creating the false impression that the call is coming directly from the FBI field office.

Scammers may even encourage victims to verify the telephone number themselves, exploiting the fact that an online search will confirm the number belongs to FBI Albany. The criminals then provide fake names and badge numbers to strengthen the deception and convince victims they are communicating with federal law enforcement.

In some instances, victims are instructed to continue the conversation through an encrypted messaging application, moving communications away from traditional telephone channels as the scammers attempt to gain additional control over the interaction.

The FBI emphasized that these calls are fraudulent. The FBI will not call or email private citizens to demand payment or personal information or to threaten them with arrest. Anyone receiving such a call should immediately end the conversation and report the incident.

The scheme is a form of government impersonation fraud, in which criminals pose as government officials or law enforcement personnel to steal money, obtain personally identifiable information, or gain unauthorized access to a victim’s financial accounts, computer, or mobile device.

These scams frequently rely on fear and urgency. Criminals may claim that a victim’s Social Security number has been compromised, that bank accounts are connected to criminal activity, that an arrest warrant has been issued, or that immediate action is necessary to avoid financial loss or prosecution. The objective is to pressure the victim into acting before independently verifying the claims.

Caller ID information should not be treated as proof of a caller’s identity. Through caller ID spoofing, criminals can manipulate the telephone number displayed on a recipient’s device, making a call appear to originate from a legitimate government agency, financial institution, business, or other trusted organization.

The scale of government impersonation fraud continues to represent a significant financial threat. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 32,424 people reported falling victim to government impersonation scams during 2025, with reported losses exceeding $797 million.

The FBI is urging the public to remain cautious when receiving unexpected calls from unfamiliar numbers and to never provide Social Security numbers, banking credentials, credit card information, passwords, or other sensitive personal information to unsolicited callers. Individuals should also refuse requests to send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other forms of payment to people they do not personally know and trust.

Anyone contacted by someone claiming to represent the FBI who demands money or personal information should end the call rather than relying on the number displayed on caller ID. If verification is necessary, individuals should independently locate the official telephone number for the agency or organization and initiate a separate call.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized by this or another internet-enabled fraud scheme is encouraged to report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

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