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What to do if…
someone claiming to be police or an official contacts you and you suspect impersonation

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

If someone is physically present and you feel at risk, call 911 and avoid physical confrontation. If this is a suspected traffic stop, slow down, signal that you have seen the vehicle with your hazard lights, call 911 to verify the stop, and follow the call-taker’s guidance rather than speeding away. For a call, message, or other non-emergency contact, stop the conversation, do not pay or share sensitive information, and verify the claim using contact details you find independently.

Do not do these things

  • Do not send money, cryptocurrency, gift-card numbers, cash, gold, or payment-app transfers.
  • Do not move money to a supposedly safe, secure, or protected account.
  • Do not share passwords, verification codes, banking details, your Social Security number, or photographs of identification during an unexpected contact.
  • Do not use a phone number, link, email address, or website supplied by the person to verify them.
  • Do not assume caller ID, a badge number, a case number, official-looking documents, or knowledge of personal details proves the person is genuine.
  • Do not click unexpected links, open attachments, install software, or allow remote access to a device.
  • Do not physically confront, follow, detain, or try to investigate a suspected impersonator.
  • Do not decide the contact is genuine or fake solely because it was unexpected. Verify it independently.
  • Do not delete messages, voicemails, transaction records, account alerts, or documents before saving basic records.

What to do now

  1. If the person is present and you feel threatened, they are trying to enter or detain you, or you believe someone is posing as an officer, call 911 and avoid physical confrontation. If this is a suspected traffic stop, do not speed away: slow down, activate your hazard lights, call 911 to verify the stop, and follow the call-taker’s guidance while moving toward a well-lit public place if appropriate.
  2. For a phone call, text, email, video call, or social-media message, end the contact. You do not need to remain connected while you check the claim.
  3. Record what was already provided, including the claimed name, agency, office, badge or employee number, case number, phone number, request, threats, and time of contact.
  4. Find the agency independently through its official .gov website, the USA.gov agency directory, or an official state, city, or county website. Call its published main or non-emergency number and ask whether the person, case, and contact are genuine.
  5. Treat demands for immediate payment, secrecy, gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash, gold, payment apps, wire transfers, or moving money to a safe account as strong impersonation warning signs. Do not comply while verifying.
  6. If the agency confirms that the contact is genuine, ask the verified agency how to respond. Do not continue through contact details supplied in the original message unless the agency confirms them.
  7. If you sent money, immediately contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, gift-card company, wire service, delivery company, or cryptocurrency exchange involved. Say you may have paid an impersonator and ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled, reversed, or disputed.
  8. If you shared a password or gave access to an account or device, use a device you trust to change affected passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, review recent activity, and contact the relevant financial institution or service.
  9. If you shared your Social Security number or other identity information, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan and information about fraud alerts and credit freezes.
  10. Save screenshots, emails, texts, voicemails, usernames, receipts, transaction details, and documents. Report the impersonation to the Federal Trade Commission. Cyber-enabled fraud can also be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and threats or in-person police impersonation can be reported to local law enforcement through an independently verified number.

What can wait

You do not need to confront the person, research every claim, warn other people publicly, hire an attorney, or complete every available report immediately. First reach safety, end the contact, verify it independently, and protect any money, accounts, devices, or personal information that may be exposed.

Important reassurance

Pausing an unexpected contact so you can verify it is reasonable. Impersonators can copy real names, phone numbers, seals, documents, job titles, and personal details, so uncertainty does not mean you have done anything wrong.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Later decisions involving identity recovery, disputed payments, threats, court matters, or genuine law-enforcement contact may require help from the relevant agency, financial institution, cybersecurity service, or a qualified attorney.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, or cybersecurity advice. Emergency responses, police procedures, and legal requirements vary by state and agency, so obtain specific guidance through an independently verified agency or qualified professional.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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