Fake Police Video Call Scam: What the FBI Is Warning About

Picture this. Your phone rings, and a stern voice says you missed jury duty and there's a warrant for your arrest. To clear it up, they want to switch to a video call. On screen is someone in uniform, sitting in what looks like a police office. That's the fake police video call scam, and the FBI is warning that AI is making it more convincing. This guide covers how it works, the stories scammers use, and exactly what to do if it happens to you or someone you love.

What the FBI says about the fake police video call scam

In September, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) published a public service announcement on law enforcement and government impersonation scams. A few things stand out.

• Between January 2025 and July 2026, IC3 received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement or government impersonation scams, with losses totaling more than $1.6 billion.
• Scammers "use new technologies, such as artificial intelligence," to appear as law enforcement and government officials on video calls.
• In some cases, scammers wear fake police uniforms and use mock sets of official government facilities to look legitimate.

That's not a small, rare problem. And the video piece matters, because a lot of us were taught that seeing someone's face is proof. It isn't anymore.

The stories scammers tell

The FBI notice lists the most common setups. Knowing them ahead of time is half the battle.

"You're connected to a crime." The caller says you committed a crime or your identity was used in one. You'll be arrested unless you pay or "help the investigation." The FBI says these make up the majority of government impersonation complaints.

"You missed jury duty" or "You missed a court date." There's a warrant, and you can clear it by paying now. IC3 counted 6,833 complaints of this kind between January 2025 and July 2026, with losses of nearly $36 million.

"Your license or passport is expiring." Pay now to renew, or else.

"Your professional license is in trouble." Doctors, nurses and other licensed workers get calls saying their license will be revoked or was used in a crime.

The details change. The shape doesn't: you're in trouble, it's urgent, and paying right now makes it go away.

How the scam plays out

Based on the FBI's description, here's the usual pattern:

1. A call out of nowhere. Often from a number that looks real. Scammers spoof real phone numbers, email addresses, names and badge details.
2. Fear and pressure. An aggressive, urgent tone. Threats of arrest or prosecution.
3. Isolation. They refuse to talk to anyone but you, won't leave a message, keep you on the phone the whole time, and tell you not to tell anyone.
4. The video call. To "verify" things, they move to video. A uniform. An office. Maybe a badge held up to the camera. With AI, the face and voice may be fake.
5. The payment. Prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or a courier who comes to pick up cash.

That isolation step is the tell. A real officer has no reason to keep you from calling your son or your lawyer.

What real police will never do

The FBI is very direct about this. According to the PSA:

• Law enforcement and government authorities will never contact the public by phone or text to demand payment or ask for personal or sensitive information.
• Law enforcement and government officials will never request payment by prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or courier.

Write those two lines on a sticky note and put it by the phone. If a caller breaks either rule, it's a scam. Full stop.

What to do if you get the call

1. Hang up. You don't need to argue or explain. Just end the call.
2. Don't switch to video. If you're already on video, close the app.
3. Call the agency yourself. Look up the number on the agency's official website or in the phone book. The FBI warns not to use any number or link the caller gives you.
4. Check any web link carefully. The FBI notes scammers use web addresses that look almost official, like .com instead of .gov.
5. Call someone you trust. Scammers want you alone. Breaking that is the fastest way out.
6. Never pay. No gift cards, no crypto, no handing cash to a courier.

If it's a jury duty claim, call your local court clerk using the number on the court's website. They can tell you in two minutes whether anything is real.

Use AI to double-check, safely

Here's a good way to put AI on your side. If a call has you rattled, open ChatGPT and describe what happened, without giving names, addresses or account numbers.

Using the HAT method from our book (who you are, how to talk to you, what you need), try:

"I'm 78 and I just got a scary call. A man said he was a sheriff's deputy, that I missed jury duty, and that I need to pay $1,500 with gift cards today or be arrested. He wanted to switch to a video call. Please explain simply: is this a scam, and what should I do next?"

You'll get a calm, clear answer. It won't replace calling the real court, but it helps you slow down, which is exactly what the scammer doesn't want.

To get better at spotting faked faces and voices in general, read our guide on how to spot a deepfake. For phone tricks like voice cloning, see our post on AI scam calls.

If you already paid or shared information

Don't be embarrassed. These are professional criminals with fake sets and AI tools. Act quickly:

1. Stop all contact with the scammer.
2. Call your bank and card companies right away to protect your accounts.
3. Report it to your local police department.
4. File a complaint at ic3.gov. The FBI asks you to include the scammer's phone numbers and email addresses, and details of any payments, including bank or cryptocurrency details.
5. Keep every record: texts, emails, receipts and call logs.

How families can help

If you have an older parent, have a five-minute talk this week. Don't make it a lecture. Just share the two "never" rules and agree on one thing: if anyone calls claiming to be police, court or government and asks for money, they'll call you before doing anything. Many families also set up a safe word for emergencies.

Then check in once in a while. These scams thrive on secrecy, so make it easy to talk.

Common questions

Can scammers really fake a police officer on video? Yes. The FBI says scammers use AI to appear as law enforcement and government officials on video calls, and some use fake uniforms and fake office sets.

Would a real officer ever ask me to pay a fine over the phone? No. The FBI says law enforcement will never call or text to demand payment.

The caller ID showed my local sheriff's number. Is it real? Not necessarily. Scammers can spoof real numbers. Hang up and call the official number yourself.

Where do I report it? Your local police and the FBI at ic3.gov.

A little knowledge goes a long way

You don't need to be a tech expert to beat these scams. You need a few simple rules and the habit of slowing down.

That's a big part of AI for Boomers, our step-by-step guide in large, easy-to-read print. It teaches you how to use AI with confidence and how to catch fake voices, fake emails and bad links before they cost you. It starts from zero, and if it doesn't save you time in 30 days, we'll refund you.