WhatsApp Scam Reports
Impersonation (Bank/Government)
What is an Impersonation (Bank/Government) scam?
A contact claims to be your bank, tax office, or another authority, warning of a frozen account or unpaid fine to pressure you into an urgent payment or into revealing personal details.
1 report on file · refreshed live on every request · most recent
Red flags to watch for
- The caller or texter already knows partial account or ID details, used to sound legitimate.
- There is a threat of frozen funds, arrest, or legal action if you don't act immediately.
- You are asked to move money to a "safe account" they control, or buy gift cards to "pay a fine."
- They contact you on WhatsApp at all -- real banks and government agencies don't open cases that way.
What to do
Hang up or stop the chat, then contact the institution yourself using the number on your card or their official website -- never a number or link the caller provided. Real banks and government agencies do not ask you to move money to a "safe account" or pay a fine over WhatsApp.
How common this is, officially
IC3's "Government Impersonation" category received 32,424 complaints in 2025, with reported losses of $798 million.
— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report
Reports tagged Impersonation (Bank/Government)
1 report filed under Impersonation (Bank/Government), most recently on . Impersonation (Bank/Government) ranks #4 of 6 scam types on file by report volume.
- 1🇳🇬 Nigeria1 report
1 matching report
Frequently asked questions
How is a scam type determined for a report?
The reporter selects it when filing, from a fixed list of common patterns -- not inferred automatically from the notes.
What if a report matches more than one pattern?
Reporters pick the single closest match. Read the notes on each report for the full description, which often blends more than one tactic.
How often is this page updated?
Immediately — every count here reflects the reports on file in real time, not a periodic snapshot.
Report this to official agencies
This case file is a self-reported community record, not an official investigation. If you were targeted, consider also filing a report with a national or international fraud authority:
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)United States
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)United States
- Action FraudUnited Kingdom
- Scamwatch (ACCC)Australia
- Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreCanada
- CERT NZNew Zealand
- National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalIndia
- ScamShieldSingapore
- Anti-Deception Coordination CentreHong Kong
- EuropolEuropean Union
- INTERPOLGlobal
- econsumer.gov (ICPEN)Cross-border complaints