The Scam-Proof Guardian Guide to Government Imposter Scams

No real government agency will ever threaten you over the phone.

The IRS, Social Security, and Medicare don't call to demand payment — and they will never ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. But criminals posing as them target older Americans every single day, one frightening phone call at a time. This guide gives you the proof and the protocol to shut them down.

Written for seniors — and the people who love them. Plain language, easy to read, no tech jargon.

What's inside:

• The exact scripts scammers use, so you recognize the call before it rattles you
• Why a "suspended Social Security number" or a "warrant for your arrest" is always fake
• The 3-step verification protocol: hang up, look up the real number, call back
• The payment red flags that mean "scam" every time — gift cards, wire, crypto, couriers
• Exactly what to do the moment you realize you're on a scam call
• Step-by-step recovery if you've already paid — who to call and what to say
• How to report it (FTC, Social Security OIG, and the FBI's IC3) so it actually counts
• A simple family plan so your loved ones are protected too

Plus cut-out reference cards you can keep right by the phone.

Written by S. Shields — three master's degrees, 15 years in cybersecurity, and a U.S. Army veteran.

You don't have to be a tech expert to be scam-proof. You just need the right information, in the right order, before the call comes.

Not on our watch.

National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-372-8311