Rise in government-impersonation scams threatens public confidence

Government-impersonation scams exploded in 2025, with the FBI noting an 87% rise in reported incidents and the FTC estimating losses of about $920 million, up from $789 million in 2024. Gallup’s survey indicates that only a small share of victims report fraud, leaving the federal complaint system to capture a tiny portion of an estimated $68 billion total loss affecting roughly 15 million adults. The FTC’s Government and Business Impersonation Rule has led to a dozen enforcement actions and more than $70 million recovered, while agencies such as the Treasury, Justice Department and the White House have launched public-education campaigns.

Nonetheless, experts warn that without stronger enforcement, AI-driven impersonations, and accountability for telecom and platform providers, public trust in legitimate government messages will continue to deteriorate. They propose a unified reporting platform and stricter digital-ad verification standards to close gaps that scammers exploit. Caroline Melear, a Resident Fellow at the R Street Institute, emphasizes that piecemeal solutions are insufficient to rebuild confidence in government communications.