Fake FBI Offices and Real Agent Names: A New Scam Designed to Defeat Verification

Scammers impersonating FBI agents are using staged video backgrounds to make fraudulent calls appear to come from inside a federal office.

The FBI's Newark field office said scammers have posed as FBI, DEA, and Secret Service agents while using the names of real federal agents and spoofing law enforcement phone numbers. In one reported case, a fraudster used an online meeting platform with a background resembling an FBI office, complete with a desk, an FBI seal, and a man in a suit.

That creates an unusual verification problem: a victim who checks whether the named agent exists may receive a genuine confirmation because the person being impersonated actually works for the FBI.

Real Agent Names Make Fake Calls Harder to Expose

The latest tactic exploits information that is actually true. Scammers reportedly introduce themselves using the names of real federal agents while making calls appear to come from genuine field-office numbers through caller ID spoofing. A victim who searches for the agent or contacts the agency may therefore find details that appear to confirm the caller's identity.

But verifying that an agent exists does not establish that the person making the call is that agent. The FBI warned that the combination can make it extremely difficult for potential victims to determine whether they are being targeted by an impersonator. The tactic reflects a broader problem with government impersonation scams: accurate personal or official details can be used to create credibility without giving the scammer any legitimate connection to the agency.

Fake Office Backgrounds Add Visual Authority

The staged office introduces another layer of social engineering. The FBI said one fraudster used a virtual meeting platform to create the appearance of an FBI workplace. Its wider cybercrime guidance also warns that scammers are using artificial intelligence and other technologies to appear as law enforcement or government officials during video calls.

That can turn a familiar phone scam into something that looks more like an official investigation. A caller may have a genuine agent's name, an apparently authentic phone number, and a video background that resembles a government workplace. The FBI's warning is therefore less about whether a fake office looks convincing in isolation and more about how several believable details can be combined into one false identity.

Government Impersonation Scams Are Already Costly

The new tactic comes as law enforcement impersonation fraud is causing substantial financial losses. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center said its 17 September 2026 public service announcement covered nearly 61,000 complaints involving law enforcement or government impersonation scams between January 2025 and July 2026, with reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion (£1.2 billion).

The FBI said scammers can accuse victims of being connected to criminal activity and threaten arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment. Payment demands may involve bank wires, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, couriers, or cash deposited into cryptocurrency kiosks. That makes the fake FBI office more than a visual gimmick. It is another tool for establishing authority before the conversation turns towards money or sensitive information.

Independent Verification Remains the Critical Check

The FBI says people should never send money to anyone claiming to be a federal law enforcement agent. Anyone receiving an unexpected call should independently find the agency's official contact details rather than relying on a number provided by the caller. The FBI advises people to explain to the agency that they suspect an impersonation scam and want to establish whether a genuine agent is contacting them.

If a suspected fraudster uses a virtual meeting platform, the FBI recommends taking photographs or recording the video and submitting the material through its reporting system. It also lists 1-800-CALL-FBI for people who need to speak with a genuine FBI representative.

The key lesson is that a real agent's name, an apparently genuine government number, or an official-looking video background should not be treated as proof of identity. Each can be copied or manipulated without the real agent's involvement.