What every script has in common
The SSA's Inspector General calls it the four Ps: scammers pretend to be someone you trust, announce a problem or a prize, pressure you to act now, and insist on a payment method that is hard to trace.
What people complain about shows which scripts are busiest. In fiscal year 2025, consumers who named a topic in a Do Not Call complaint most often picked debt reduction, then imposters, then medical offers:
Do Not Call complaints by topic, fiscal year 2025
Live calls and robocalls together. Not everyone who complains names a topic. Source: FTC Do Not Call Data Book 2025.
Show as a table
| Topic | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Reducing debt | 441,430 |
| Imposters | 243,628 |
| Medical and prescriptions | 204,312 |
| Energy, solar and utilities | 34,801 |
| Home improvement and cleaning | 28,042 |
| Warranties and protection plans | 21,316 |
| Vacation and timeshares | 13,574 |
| Lotteries, prizes and sweepstakes | 11,996 |
Losses tell a slightly different story. When people aged 60 and over lost money after a phone call in 2025, the scam was most often a business impersonation, then a government impersonation:
Phone-call losses reported by people 60 and over, 2025
Share of reports with a dollar loss, by type of scam. Source: FTC, Protecting Older Consumers 2025–2026.
Show as a table
| Type of scam | Share of loss reports |
|---|---|
| Business impersonation | 36% |
| Government impersonation | 26% |
| Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries | 15% |
Your bank or Amazon “fraud department”
The caller says there is fraud on your account or a suspicious Amazon purchase. The FTC is categorical: if a caller spots fraud on your account, offers to “protect” your money by moving it, or asks for a verification code, it is always a scam. No caller, least of all a fraud department, will ask for the code. Scammers spoof Amazon's number; log in through the website or app instead of calling back.
Bank accounts have fewer protections than credit cards: money you are tricked into moving yourself is not protected. A newer twist “transfers” you to a fake Social Security or Inspector General agent, which the SSA says is always a scam.
Tech support
Someone says they are a technician from a well-known company, asks for remote access to your computer, “finds” a virus and charges to remove it, often by gift card, wire, bank transfer, crypto or payment app. Legitimate tech companies do not call, email or text to say your computer has a problem, and real security warnings never ask you to call a number. If you gave them your password, change it right away.
Medicare
Medicare will never call to sell you anything. It, or someone representing it, only calls asking for personal information in limited cases, such as returning your call. Do not give your Medicare or Social Security number to anyone who calls, and do not join a plan over the phone unless you called for help. During open enrollment, CMS's advice is to hang up on unsolicited calls. Report suspected fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Missed jury duty or an arrest warrant
The caller says you missed jury duty, there is a warrant, and paying a fine now cancels it. Courts never ask for immediate payment or sensitive information like your Social Security number over the phone. Most contact from a federal court comes by mail. The U.S. Marshals will never ask for card numbers, wire transfers or bitcoin, and no legitimate agency calls to announce an arrest warrant.
Scammers may quote real officials' names and courthouse addresses, and spoof a court's number. To check, call the clerk of the U.S. District Court in your area yourself.
A relative in trouble
A panicked voice says it is your grandson, in jail after a crash, and needs money. A scammer can clone a voice from a short clip posted online. Others pose as a lawyer, police officer or doctor, and all of them ask you to keep it secret and pay right away by wire, crypto, payment app or gift card.
Do not trust the voice. Call the person on a number you know is theirs, or reach them through family or friends; ask a question only the real person could answer.
Your utility is about to cut you off
The caller threatens to shut off your gas, power or water unless you pay immediately. Real utility companies do not demand immediate payment to avoid same-day disconnection, and only scammers say you can only pay by wire, crypto, payment app or gift card. Call the number on your bill instead.
Your car warranty is expiring
A recorded voice says your vehicle warranty is about to lapse. The FTC calls it an illegal robocall and likely a scam; the callers are not with your dealer or manufacturer, and what they sell is a service contract that often costs hundreds or thousands of dollars.
In July 2022 the FCC ordered phone companies to stop carrying one such operation, which it says made more than eight billion unlawful prerecorded calls since at least 2018. In December 2022 it proposed a record $299,997,000 fine against the same campaign.
“The FTC” or another agency
A script reported in October 2026: “the FTC” says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams abroad and threatens to deactivate your number. A real FTC employee will never threaten to disconnect your phone, ask you to keep a conversation secret, or text you a photo of an ID badge. The FTC does not have “agents” who call you.
The general rule from the FTC: government agencies never call, email, text or message you on social media to ask for money or personal information. Two agencies have their own guides here: Social Security and the IRS.