FBI agent or federal prosecutor video call holds you "digitally captive" for hours
Scammers impersonating FBI agents or federal prosecutors initiate a video call and hold you "captive" for hours, threatening criminal charges, while displaying fake badges and virtual government office backgrounds.
Also known as: digital captivity scam, FBI impersonation video call scam, fake federal agent video call, digital arrest scam US
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 End the call immediately — no government agency conducts arrests or investigations over video call
- 2 Tell a trusted family member or friend right away; the instruction to stay silent is itself the scam
- 3 Do not transfer money under any circumstances — no agency settles criminal charges over the phone or video
- 4 If you believe you are genuinely under investigation, consult a licensed attorney before making any payments
- 5 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ Real federal law enforcement will never contact you via unsolicited video call demanding money
- ⚠ The 'officer' insists you stay on the call and not tell family members — isolation is a core scam tactic
- ⚠ They display a badge, uniform, or virtual government-office background on video — all fake
- ⚠ The call may transfer between multiple 'officers,' 'supervisors,' and 'prosecutors' to create authenticity
- ⚠ They demand a wire transfer or cryptocurrency 'settlement' to close the investigation quietly
- ⚠ May use AI deepfake technology to show the face of a real-looking officer
Sources
- FBI Atlanta — Federal Authorities Warn of Fraudsters Impersonating Prosecutors and Law Enforcement (Jan 2026)
- FBI Philadelphia — Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials (2026)
- AARP — Five of the Biggest Scams to Watch for in 2026 (digital arrest spreading to US)
- DOJ — Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers: 276 Arrests (Apr 2026)
- ISACA — Trapped Virtually: Understanding Digital Arrest Scams (2025)