What are the red flags of this scam?

Your 'bank' calls first, saying your identity was used to open an account to purchase illegal firearms — this specific pretext is the scam's opening hook • The call drops, then you receive a return call showing the FBI's real phone number — caller ID can be spoofed to display any number, including verified government numbers • The 'agent' provides a convincing name, badge number, and case number about the firearms investigation • You are asked to switch to Signal, WhatsApp, or another encrypted messaging app to 'protect the investigation' • You are directed to a Bitcoin ATM or asked to withdraw cash as part of a 'parallel transaction' to secure your funds • The entire call urges secrecy — you are told not to tell your bank, family, or anyone else until the case is closed

What should I do if this happened to me?

Hang up — caller ID showing a real government number means nothing; that number is trivially spoofed • Call your actual bank at the number on the back of your card to verify whether any account issue exists • The FBI does not call people cold about active investigations involving them, does not ask you to download apps, and does not direct citizens to Bitcoin ATMs or cash couriers • Never move money, visit a Bitcoin ATM, or withdraw cash at the direction of any unexpected caller, no matter what number shows on your caller ID • If you sent money, call your bank immediately and also file a report at ic3.gov — do not wait • Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.

HIGH government impersonation Last reported: Oct 15, 2026 Share

A 'bank rep' says your identity opened a gun-buying account — then 'FBI' calls from the real number

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. A fake bank rep says your identity was used to buy illegal firearms. The call drops; an 'FBI agent' immediately calls back from the FBI's real verified phone number and moves you to Signal. You end up at a Bitcoin ATM.

A fake bank rep says your identity was used to buy illegal firearms. The call drops; an 'FBI agent' immediately calls back from the FBI's real verified phone number and moves you to Signal. You end up at a Bitcoin ATM.

Also known as: FBI gun account scam, illegal firearms account impersonation, FBI number spoof encrypted app scam, bank-to-FBI two-phase impersonation, FBI Bitcoin ATM scam

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 Hang up — caller ID showing a real government number means nothing; that number is trivially spoofed
2 Call your actual bank at the number on the back of your card to verify whether any account issue exists
3 The FBI does not call people cold about active investigations involving them, does not ask you to download apps, and does not direct citizens to Bitcoin ATMs or cash couriers
4 Never move money, visit a Bitcoin ATM, or withdraw cash at the direction of any unexpected caller, no matter what number shows on your caller ID
5 If you sent money, call your bank immediately and also file a report at ic3.gov — do not wait
6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.

Red flags

⚠ Your 'bank' calls first, saying your identity was used to open an account to purchase illegal firearms — this specific pretext is the scam's opening hook
⚠ The call drops, then you receive a return call showing the FBI's real phone number — caller ID can be spoofed to display any number, including verified government numbers
⚠ The 'agent' provides a convincing name, badge number, and case number about the firearms investigation
⚠ You are asked to switch to Signal, WhatsApp, or another encrypted messaging app to 'protect the investigation'
⚠ You are directed to a Bitcoin ATM or asked to withdraw cash as part of a 'parallel transaction' to secure your funds
⚠ The entire call urges secrecy — you are told not to tell your bank, family, or anyone else until the case is closed

Known variants

Scammer uses a video call (Zoom, Teams, Meet) with a background staged as an FBI field office — desk, seal, suited figure. They give the real name of an actual FBI agent at that office and spoof the field office's phone number. When the victim calls to verify, the agent's name checks out.

Last seen: 10/15/2026

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Known variants

Sources