Scammers posing as government officials collected nearly twice the cash from victims in 2023 as they did the previous year, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and stats for 2024 show the disturbing trend isn’t letting up.

Government impersonation scams disproportionally target servicemembers, veterans, and others who regularly deal with federal entities – from TRICARE to the VA to any number of other departments and providers. TRICARE For Life beneficiaries recently saw an uptick in fake text messages from scammers posing as a health care provider, for example.

Scammers posing as government officials seeking cash payments have scored big in recent months, according to FTC data: Victims reported losing $76 million in cash in 2023, up from $40 million in 2022. Fraudsters collected another $20 million in the first quarter of 2024.

[3-PART MOAA SERIES: Don’t Be Scammed]

The cash-payment portion of these scams is a small one – government impersonation fraud cost victims $618 million in 2023, per the FTC – but cash-scam victims report losing more per incident than victims who use any other form of payment. The average cash-payment victim lost $14,470 in the first quarter of 2024, the FTC reported.

Impostors seeking cash payment will gain the trust of their victim before presenting an urgent situation that requires immediate attention, often posing a threat to a loved one. The pitch is designed to make the victim act rashly – before considering that government agencies will not demand a cash payment, nor will they seek personal information via text, phone call, or social media post.

If you’ve been targeted by this type of fraud, you can report it to the FTC via its website or by visiting the website of the relevant federal agency:

• VA: Protecting Veterans From Fraud
• TRICARE: Report Fraud and Abuse
• Medicare: Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse

MOAA Premium and Life members can access recorded webinars with tips to avoid fraud of all types: An Overview of Scams and Frauds | Outsmart the Scammers: How to Spot and Avoid Financial Fraud | Protecting Yourself From Cybercrime and Scams

MOAA also is a partner in the Cybercrime Support Network’s Military and Veteran Program, which aims to protect servicemembers, veterans, and military families from falling victim to fraud. Get more resources from that organization at this link.