How do I verify that a communication from a government agency is real?

Government impersonation is one of the most common and emotionally effective scam categories because a fear of legal consequences overrides normal scepticism. Scammers impersonate the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, USCIS, HMRC, and local courts. Understanding how real government agencies actually communicate is the most reliable defence.

In the United States, the IRS contacts taxpayers primarily by postal mail for most issues. They do not typically call without first sending a letter, do not demand immediate payment without giving you an opportunity to question or appeal, do not require specific payment methods like gift cards or wire transfer, and do not threaten immediate arrest for non-payment. Similarly, Social Security will not call you to say your number has been suspended — Social Security numbers cannot be suspended.

When you receive any government-related communication — letter, call, or email — do not use the contact details provided in that communication to verify it. Instead, find the agency's official phone number from their official government website (e.g., irs.gov, ssa.gov, hmrc.gov.uk) and call that number. Ask them whether there is any open matter related to your account. Government agency numbers are publicly available and consistent.

For postal mail that looks official, check for the agency's full name, address, and case reference number. Real government mail does not typically have spelling errors, though sophisticated fraudsters can produce convincing fakes. The safest rule is always to verify through an independently-found contact method, not the one provided in the communication.