LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office is warning Kentuckians about a rise in fraud schemes involving phone scams.
Officials said scammers are using spoofed phone numbers to impersonate law enforcement or government officials in an effort to steal money or personal information.
The most common version of the scam involves callers posing as a local sheriff’s office. They falsely claim the victim failed to report for jury duty or missed a court date and may say an arrest warrant has been issued.
Scammers then pressure victims to pay a fine to avoid arrest or other consequences. To appear legitimate, they may use AI tools, provide official-looking documents, or reference personal details about the victim. In some cases, they send fake federal court or agency documents.
The FBI emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never call to demand payment or threaten arrest, nor will they request payment through cryptocurrency ATMs.
According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, more than 39,949 government impersonation scam complaints were reported nationwide in 2025, with losses exceeding $833 million. In Kentucky alone, 475 complaints resulted in losses of more than $3.15 million.
To avoid falling victim, the FBI advises people to pause and think before responding to urgent demands. Residents should avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers and should never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone they have not met in person.
If you believe you have been targeted, stop all communication immediately, contact your financial institution, secure your accounts, and report the incident to local law enforcement and the FBI.
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