TL;DR: In April 2023 the Suffolk County District Attorney announced that $140,000 had been recovered for an 87-year-old resident who lost more than $650,000 to a fake FBI agent. In July 2023 a Colorado sheriff's office intercepted a $20,000 cash shipment mailed to an FTC impersonator and returned it to the victim. Both show why mail, bank and police interventions matter.

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Long Island, April 2023: a fake FBI agent

The Suffolk County District Attorney said an 87-year-old resident lost more than $650,000 in cashier's checks. The scammer claimed to be an FBI special agent, said the victim's identity had been stolen to rent a vehicle found in Texas, and demanded money for 'safekeeping' and a new Social Security number. The caller built daily rapport, cited a fake gag order to stop the victim from telling anyone, and sent counterfeit FBI letterhead.

Investigators seized $115,000 from a bank account in South Bend and intercepted a $25,000 FedEx package before delivery, recovering $140,000 in total. The District Attorney's advice was to slow down, be sceptical, and call your bank on a published number rather than one the caller supplies.

Colorado, July 2023: a fake FTC call

CBS Colorado reported on July 18, 2023 that a Highlands Ranch resident was called by someone posing as an FTC official. She was told to move money between accounts and mail cash to 'verify' it. A technician at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office intercepted the shipment before it reached the scammer in New York and returned the full $20,000.

Warning signs in both cases

Read social security impersonation calls, the fake FTC refund recovery scam, grandparent scams versus digital arrest and elder fraud statistics for 2026 for more, and share how to protect elderly parents from phone scams with older relatives.

If you have already sent money

Call your bank at once and report to the FTC ReportFraud and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If you mailed cash or a package, contact the carrier immediately: both of these cases show a package can sometimes be stopped. Our what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How was $140,000 recovered for the 87-year-old?

Investigators seized $115,000 from a bank account in South Bend and intercepted a $25,000 FedEx package before it was delivered.

How did the Colorado victim get her $20,000 back?

A Douglas County Sheriff's Office technician intercepted the cash package before it reached the scammer in New York and returned it.

Do government agencies ask for cash or cashier's checks?

No. A request to mail cash, buy cashier's checks or keep a call secret is a scam sign.

Who should I report an impersonation scam to?

Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3, and tell your bank immediately.

Sources

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