No. The FTC is not calling to deactivate your phone number. If a caller claims to be from the Federal Trade Commission, reads off a badge number, and says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams in another country — and that your number will be shut off unless you cooperate — hang up. It is a scam. The FTC warned about this exact script in a consumer alert on October 22, 2026.
It usually starts the same way. Your phone rings, and the caller sounds calm and official. He says he is an FTC officer, reads out a badge number, and tells you a phone was registered under your name and number. That phone, he says, is being used to commit scams in another country. If you do not cooperate right now, your number will be deactivated. The words are chosen to do one thing: make you afraid of losing something you use every day.
The reason this script works is that every step is built to make the next one feel real. A badge number sounds like proof. A threat to cut off your phone feels urgent. A transfer to a “police officer” feels like the situation just got serious. And when you hesitate, the caller gives you a way to “verify” the story yourself — which is the cleverest part of the whole trick, because the verification is rigged too. The final step is always the same: money.
This guide walks through the script exactly as the FTC described it, shows you how to spot it in seconds, explains why it fools even careful people, and tells you what to do if the call already reached you — or someone you love. Every figure in it comes from the FTC or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and nothing here is a guess.
How does the FTC phone scam work, step by step?
The FTC breaks the scheme into five stages. Knowing them in advance is the best protection, because each stage is designed to make the next one feel reasonable — and the whole thing falls apart the moment you hang up.
| Stage | What happens | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The “FTC” call | A caller claims to be an FTC official and reads off a badge number. He says a phone was registered under your name and number and is being used to commit scams in another country. | A badge number and an agency name sound like authority, so you listen instead of hanging up. |
| 2. The threat | He says your phone number will be deactivated unless you cooperate right now. | Losing your phone number feels immediate and personal, so fear replaces clear thinking. |
| 3. The fake police transfer | To make the story sound real, he transfers you to a “police officer” to file a report. If you hesitate, he tells you what to search online to find the police department’s number and call back. | It feels like you are verifying the story yourself. But when you call, people involved in the scam pick up. |
| 4. The information harvest | The “officer” asks for your ID and other personal information for your “report” and tells you to keep everything secret. | Secrecy cuts off the one thing that would stop the scam: telling someone you trust. |
| 5. The payoff demand | Later comes the bad news: you are under arrest for the scams your number was tied to, and you have to go to another country — unless you send money for a “security deposit.” | After four stages of fear, paying feels like the only way out. |
None of this is true. The badge is fake, the phone registered in your name does not exist, the police officer is a scammer, and there is no arrest and no security deposit. The FTC’s own words on the alert are blunt: “None of this is true — it’s all a scam.”
What does the scam call sound like?
The exchange below is a made-up example built from the steps the FTC describes. It is not a recording of a real call, and the name and badge number in it are invented. It is here so you can recognize the pattern the moment you hear it.
Caller: “Hello, this is Officer Mark Reynolds with the Federal Trade Commission, badge number FTC-77190. A phone registered in your name and number is being used to run scams overseas. Your number will be deactivated within two hours unless you cooperate with our investigation.”
You: “I never registered a second phone. This must be a mistake.”
Caller: “I understand, and I am going to transfer you to the police department so you can file a report. If the line drops, search for the department’s number online and call back. We will take your ID details for the report, and please keep this conversation confidential.”
“Officer” (after the transfer): “Your number is linked to a criminal case. You are under arrest unless you pay a security deposit today. Do not tell anyone — that could make things worse for you.”
Notice how the call climbs. It starts with a problem you did not cause, adds a deadline you cannot control, brings in a second authority figure, demands secrecy, and ends with a payment. That climb is the scam. A real government agency does not work this way, and it never settles a criminal matter over the phone for a fee.
How do I know the call is fake?
Any one of these lines means the call is a scam. You do not need three red flags. One is enough, and the right move is always the same: hang up.
| What the caller says or does | Why it is a red flag |
|---|---|
| Reads out a badge number to sound official | The badge is fake. The FTC says the “FTC official” reads off a badge ID to make the call sound real — a number anyone can invent. |
| Says a phone in your name is being used for scams abroad | This is the opening line of the script the FTC warned about. A real agency does not call you with news like this out of nowhere. |
| Threatens to deactivate or disconnect your number | The FTC has no power to shut off your phone service, and a real FTC employee will never threaten to do so. |
| Transfers you to a “police officer” | The transfer is theater. The second voice is part of the same scam, there to make the story feel serious. |
| Tells you what to search online to find a number to call back | This is the trap inside the trap. It feels like independent verification, but the FTC warns that when you call, people involved in the scam pick up. |
| Asks for your ID and personal information for a “report” | A real agency does not collect your ID over the phone in a call it started. The “report” is how they harvest your details. |
| Tells you to keep everything secret | Secrecy is a tool. A scammer needs you alone, because one call to a family member or the real agency would end the scam in minutes. |
| Says you are under arrest and must travel abroad | No agency arrests people by phone or orders them to travel to another country. This is pure pressure. |
| Demands money as a “security deposit” | This is the payoff. The FTC is clear: a real FTC employee will never ask you to send money, or connect you to someone who does. |
| Texts you a photo of an employee ID to “prove” who they are | The FTC warns about this exact trick. A photo of an ID proves nothing — it can be stolen, faked, or made up. |
One more thing to remember: the name on your caller ID proves nothing either. Scammers can make any name or number appear on your screen, including the name of a real agency. If the words on the call match this script, the display name does not matter. Hang up.
What does the real FTC never do?
The FTC’s alert answers this question directly, and the list is short enough to memorize. If a caller does any of these things while claiming to be from the FTC, the caller is a scammer — no matter how official they sound.
| What the scammer does | What the real FTC does |
|---|---|
| Asks you to send money, or transfers you to someone who asks for money | Never asks you to send money, and never connects you to someone who does |
| Threatens to disconnect or deactivate your phone number | Never threatens to disconnect your phone — the FTC does not control phone service |
| Tells you to keep the conversation secret | Never tells you to keep a conversation secret |
| Texts you a photo of an employee ID to “verify” their identity | Never texts you a photo of an employee ID |
| Claims you are under arrest and must travel to another country | Does not arrest people and does not handle criminal cases by phone |
| Asks for your ID and personal details for a “report” on a call they started | Does not collect your personal information this way |
The simplest rule covers all of it: the FTC does not call people to threaten them, and it does not settle anything over the phone for a fee. If a call breaks that rule, it is not the FTC.
Why is this scam so convincing?
This scam works on careful people, not careless ones. It is built from four tricks that each make the next step harder to question.
First, the badge number. An official-sounding number, read out without hesitation, creates instant authority. Your brain treats it as proof before you have had time to ask whether a stranger on the phone would ever prove who they are this way. They would not — and the FTC says the badge in this script is fake.
Second, the fake verification. This is the part that separates this scam from a simple threatening call. When you hesitate, the caller does not argue. He hands you a way to check the story yourself: search for the police department’s number and call back. That feels like the opposite of a scam, because scammers are supposed to hide from checks. But the FTC warns that the callback is rigged — when you call, people involved in the scam answer. The check was never independent. If you ever need to verify a call like this, look up the agency’s number yourself from its official website, on your own schedule, and never use a number the caller gave you or told you to search for.
Third, the secrecy. Being told to keep the call secret feels like part of an official process, but it is really about isolation. A scammer’s worst enemy is a second opinion. One sentence to a spouse, a child, or a friend — “someone from the FTC just called about my phone” — would end the call in seconds. That is exactly why the script forbids it.
Fourth, the fear itself. Losing your phone number means losing your contacts, your messages, and your two-factor codes. Being told you are under arrest means losing your freedom. The script stacks one fear on top of another so that by the time the money demand arrives, paying feels like the smallest problem in the room. Recognizing the stack is the defense: the moment a call makes you afraid and then asks for money or secrecy, you are being scammed, whatever name the caller uses.
How big is the government impersonation problem?
This is not a rare trick. Government impersonation is one of the most expensive scams in the United States, and the losses keep growing. These are the latest official figures.
| Figure | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| About $920 million | Reported losses to government impersonators in 2025, up from $789 million in 2024 | FTC, June 15, 2026 |
| $3.5 billion | Reported losses to all imposter scams in 2025 — the most reported fraud category, nearly one in three fraud reports | FTC, June 15, 2026 |
| About $16 billion | Total reported fraud losses in 2025, the highest on record and about 25% above 2024 | FTC, June 15, 2026 |
| Nearly 61,000 complaints; more than $1.6 billion lost | Law enforcement and government impersonation, January 2025 to July 2026 | FBI IC3, September 17, 2026 |
Two notes on these numbers. First, the FTC and FBI figures come from different complaint systems, so they describe the same problem from different angles — do not add them together. Second, every figure above counts only losses people chose to report. Many victims never file a report, so the real total is higher than what these tables show.
What should I do if I get the call?
Do these six things, in this order. The first one matters most, and it takes two seconds.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Hang up | Do not argue, do not ask questions, and do not try to catch them out. Just end the call. You owe a stranger on the phone nothing, and staying on the line only gives them more chances to scare you. |
| 2. Do not call back | Do not call any number the caller gave you, and do not call a number they told you to search for. If you want to check anything, look up the agency yourself on its official website and call on your own schedule. |
| 3. Do not share anything | Do not give your ID details, Social Security number, bank details, passwords, or verification codes to a caller you did not expect — no matter what they threaten. |
| 4. Block the number | Block the number on your phone so the same caller cannot reach you again from it. It will not stop every scammer, but it stops this one. |
| 5. Tell someone | Call a family member or a friend and tell them what happened, even if nothing was lost. The secrecy instruction is part of the scam, and breaking it is part of the protection. |
| 6. Report it | File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Include the phone number, what the caller said, and whether you shared anything or sent money. Your report helps the FTC track the scam and warn others. |
For the FTC’s own warning about this exact script, read the alert here: The FTC is not calling to deactivate your phone number (FTC, October 2026).
I already shared information or sent money — what now?
First, do not panic, and do not pay anything more. The “security deposit” was never real, and no further payment fixes anything. Work through these steps now, starting with the bank if money moved.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Stop all payments | Do not send another payment, even if the caller says this is the last one or threatens arrest. Every new payment goes straight to the scammer. |
| 2. Call your bank or card issuer | If you sent money by card, bank transfer, wire, gift card, or payment app, contact the provider right away and explain that you were scammed. Ask what options exist. Recovery is not guaranteed, but reporting the loss promptly gives you the best chance. |
| 3. Protect your identity | If you shared your ID, Social Security number, or other personal details, go to IdentityTheft.gov and file a report. The site gives you a personal recovery plan. Then place a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — so no one can open accounts in your name. |
| 4. Secure your accounts | If you shared passwords, login codes, or account details, change those passwords from a device you trust and turn on two-factor authentication. If you also clicked a link or shared login details during the call, the steps in our guide to what to do after clicking a phishing link apply here too. |
| 5. Save everything | Screenshot the call log, save the phone number, and write down what the caller said, including the badge number, the name they used, and any payment details. Save it before anything disappears. |
| 6. Report it | File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and a complaint at ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Include the phone number, the script, and the payment details. Even if you did not lose money, your report adds to the evidence. |
It is also worth telling someone you trust what happened. Many victims stay quiet because they feel embarrassed, and silence helps the scammers, not you. A family member can help you work through the bank calls and reports, and can warn others the same call may reach.
How do I protect my parents from this scam?
Older adults are a favorite target for government impersonation calls, because the script leans on respect for authority and fear of trouble. The best protection is a conversation before the call ever comes, not a lecture after it.
Teach them the one rule that stops this scam cold: the FTC never calls to threaten your phone number. If someone says they are from the FTC and mentions your phone, money, secrecy, or arrest, hang up. That single sentence covers every version of the script, including the ones that have not been invented yet.
Then agree on a household rule together: no unexpected caller ever gets personal information or money, and any call claiming to be from the government gets hung up on and checked through a number you look up yourself — never a number the caller gave you. Make it a rule, not a judgment call, so there is nothing to decide in the moment when the fear hits.
Finally, make sure their phone and computer are set up with the basics: a passcode, updated software, and a trusted contact who can be called for a second opinion. Our guide to how to protect your parents’ computer from viruses walks through the setup step by step, and the same habits — update, verify, and ask before acting — protect against scam calls too.
If your parent already took a call like this, do not blame them. The script is designed by professionals to frighten people into acting fast. Help them hang up, block the number, report it, and work through the steps above. Calm help beats a lecture every time.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FTC calling to deactivate my phone number?
No. The FTC warned on October 22, 2026 that callers claiming to be FTC officials and threatening to deactivate your number are scammers. The FTC does not control phone service and will never call to shut off your number.
What should I do if I get a call saying my number will be deactivated?
Hang up. Do not argue, do not share information, and do not call back any number the caller gives you or tells you to search for. Then report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
The caller read me a badge number. Does that prove they are real?
No. The badge number is fake. The FTC says the caller reads off a badge ID to sound official, but it proves nothing — a real FTC employee will never call to threaten your phone service.
Why did the caller know my name and phone number?
Scammers buy, steal, or scrape personal details from data breaches, public records, and earlier scams. Knowing your name or number does not make the caller legitimate — it only means your details are circulating. A real FTC employee will never call to threaten your phone service.
The caller transferred me to a police officer. Was that real?
No. The “police officer” is part of the same scam. The FTC warns that if you hesitate, the caller may tell you what to search online to find a police number to call back — and when you call, people involved in the scam answer.
I already gave the caller my ID details. What do I do now?
Go to IdentityTheft.gov and file a report for a personal recovery plan, place a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus, and report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you sent money, contact your bank right away.
How do I report an FTC phone scam?
File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov with the phone number, what the caller said, and any payment details. You can also file a complaint at ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Reporting helps the FTC and FBI track the scam, even if you did not lose money.
Last Updated on November 10, 2026 by Em
