MIAMI — The FBI’s Miami field office is warning the public about a growing scam in which criminals impersonate federal law enforcement officials to defraud victims out of money and sensitive personal information.

According to the FBI, fraudsters are contacting individuals through text messages, phone calls, and emails, falsely claiming to be involved in official investigations. Victims are often told they are either suspects or victims in a fraud case, creating a sense of urgency and fear that scammers exploit.

In some cases, criminals pose as bank employees working alongside supposed FBI agents. These coordinated schemes are designed to convince victims to hand over financial details or personal identifiable information. Authorities note that many of these offenders operate from outside the United States, making them more difficult to track.

The FBI emphasized that legitimate federal law enforcement officials will never request money or sensitive personal information from individuals over the phone, online, or via email.

The agency is urging the public to remain vigilant and follow several key precautions:

• Be suspicious of unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
• Trust your instincts -- if something feels off or overly urgent, cut off communication and save any written communications as a record of what occurred.
• Independently verify claims by contacting agencies, banks, or companies using official contact information—not details provided by the caller.
• Avoid sharing money or personal information with anyone you did not initiate contact with.

Anyone who encounters this type of scam—or similar fraud—is encouraged to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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