An unexpected robocall that demands payment, a security code, or immediate action is a warning sign, not a reason to act. Hang up, then check the claim through an official app, statement, website, or phone number you find independently.

The sample lines below are representative scripts based on scam patterns described by the FTC's robocall guidance and phone-scam guidance. They are not authenticated, word-for-word transcripts or verified audio recordings. This guidance is for U.S. consumers.

Quick answer: How to recognize a robocall scam

Most scam robocalls use the same sequence:

1. A recorded message impersonates a government agency, family member, bank, retailer, delivery company, or another trusted organization.
2. It invents a serious problem, such as an arrest warrant, unauthorized purchase, suspended account, unpaid bill, or family emergency.
3. It creates pressure with a short deadline or threat.
4. It tells you to press a key, call a number, click a link, transfer money, or share personal information.
5. A live operator may then request a password, one-time code, remote access, gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or bank information.

Hang up without pressing a button. If you still need to check an account or agency, use a channel you locate yourself.

Common robocall scam scripts and what they mean

Wording changes constantly. Treat these lines as pattern samples, not scripts to memorize.

The FTC describes impersonation scams that use government agencies, law enforcement, family members, romantic interests, and recognizable businesses claiming there is a problem. Hearing a familiar name in the recording does not make the call genuine.

IRS robocall examples

Tax scams pair official-sounding language with fear. A message may claim that you owe money, have been named in a lawsuit, or face arrest unless you pay immediately.

Some IRS employees do contact taxpayers in limited circumstances, so an IRS call is not automatically fake. An unexpected caller who threatens arrest, demands immediate payment, or pushes an unusual payment method is still a major warning sign. Check how to know it's the IRS before you treat the contact as real.

Don't call back the number in the voicemail. Don't give the caller your Social Security number, bank details, filing information, or an authentication code.

Amazon impersonation robocalls

Amazon impersonators often warn of unauthorized purchases, account problems, or urgent cancellation. They may ask for payment or personal information. A recording can sound like this:

"An expensive order was placed on your account. Press 1 to cancel it before your account is suspended."

Don't press 1, and don't use a number supplied by the caller. Open your Amazon account directly, check orders and messages, and contact support from the official account area. If there's no matching order or notice, the call is not proof that your account was compromised.

Family and emergency voice scams

These calls claim a relative has been arrested, injured, stranded, or in an accident. The pitch is usually bail money, a wire, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, plus a demand that you keep it secret.

A familiar-sounding voice is not authentication. Use a number already saved in your contacts. If that person doesn't answer, reach someone else who can confirm what's going on. You can ask a question a genuine family member would know, but don't stay on the line with the caller while you try to verify.

Handle a prerecorded, synthetic, or convincingly imitated voice the same way: verify through a separate channel before you send money or information.

Red flags that reveal a fake robocall

Look for several of these together:

• Unexpected contact: You didn't request a call, open a support case, or place the order mentioned.
• Urgency: You're given minutes or hours to pay, cancel, enroll, or "avoid" a consequence.
• Threats: The message mentions arrest, account closure, deportation, disconnection, penalties, or legal action.
• A request to press a key: Pressing a number may transfer you to a scammer or an automated menu. There's no benefit to testing it.
• A demand for unusual payment: Gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash deposits, or wire transfers are strong warning signs in an impersonation call.
• Requests for secrets: Legitimate support should not need your password, full PIN, or a one-time code that was just sent to your device.
• Caller-ID confidence: A local area code, government-looking number, or familiar business name can be spoofed. The FCC's unwanted-calls guidance discusses spoofing and reporting.
• Isolation: The caller tells you not to check the website, call the agency, or speak with a family member.

You don't need to decide during the call. The FTC notes that most honest businesses give you time to think an offer over and get written information before you commit.

What to do when a robocall arrives

1. Let unknown calls go to voicemail when you can. A legitimate caller may leave identifying information that you can verify independently.
2. Hang up without pressing a key. Don't call back to challenge or test the message.
3. Write down the claim, not just the number. Note what the caller said, what it demanded, and any deadline.
4. Verify through a trusted route. Use the number on a payment card, the official agency website, a statement, or the organization's app.
5. Block the number after saving the details. Blocking may reduce repeat calls, but it can't stop every spoofed number.
6. Report the call. Reports help regulators identify patterns even when the displayed number was fake.

Don't trust a search result, text message, email, or voicemail link simply because it uses a familiar logo. Type the known website address yourself or use an official app.

If you shared information or sent money

Act quickly, but don't send more money to "recover" the first payment.

• Credit card or debit card: Call the issuer using the number on the card and report the transaction.
• Bank transfer or ACH payment: Contact your bank's fraud department and ask what cancellation, recall, or dispute options are available.
• Wire transfer: Contact the sending bank or wire company immediately and provide the transaction details.
• Gift card: Contact the card issuer, keep the card and receipt, and report the scam.
• Payment app: Report the transaction to the app provider and to the bank or card linked to the account.
• Password or security code: Change the exposed password from the official website, sign out of other sessions, and enable multifactor authentication where available.
• Remote computer access: Disconnect the device from the internet, remove unauthorized software, and use trusted technical support.

Save the original voicemail, screenshots, emails, receipts, caller-ID information, and payment records. Never give a second caller remote access or another payment because they claim to be investigating the first scam.

How to block and reduce robocalls

Use the call-screening, blocking, and spam-labeling tools on your phone and from your carrier. A reputable call-blocking service can add another filter, but no tool catches every scam, especially when callers change numbers or spoof caller ID.

You can register a number with the National Do Not Call Registry. That can reduce some covered telemarketing calls, but it does not stop scammers, political calls, charities, surveys, or every other exempt category. The FTC's robocall guidance explains why registration is not a complete solution.

Keep important contacts saved, review your phone's spam settings, and check blocked-call notifications occasionally so you don't miss a legitimate call. Changing how you respond to unexpected calls matters more than blocking one number.

How to report a robocall

Report the scam even if you didn't lose money.

1. FTC: Submit a fraud report through ReportFraud.gov. Include the caller's claim, the number displayed, the callback number, and any payment request.
2. FCC: Use the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. Select unwanted calls/texts as the phone issue and all other unwanted calls/messages as the sub-issue. If your own number is being spoofed, blocked, or labeled as spam, the FCC instead asks you to choose my own number is being spoofed as the sub-issue.
3. IRS-related texts or emails: Follow the IRS instructions for reporting fake IRS, Treasury, or tax-related messages. For suspicious texts, the IRS asks for specific details and says you can forward them to 7726, or SPAM.
4. Payment fraud: Notify the bank, card issuer, transfer company, gift-card issuer, or payment app immediately.
5. Immediate danger or significant loss: Contact local law enforcement and keep the report or case number with your records.

The FCC says it does not resolve individual unwanted-call complaints. Your submission still gives the agency information used for policy decisions and potential enforcement. A complaint is not, by itself, a legal finding that the caller violated a rule.

Are all robocalls illegal?

No. The rules depend on the purpose of the call, whether you gave consent, the type of phone number, and other exceptions. Political, charitable, informational, debt-collection, and other non-sales calls can be treated differently from prerecorded telemarketing.

The FTC says a robocall trying to sell you something is likely illegal if the caller lacks the required written permission, but the facts of each call matter. A company also can't make you agree to sales robocalls as a condition of getting a product or service. The Do Not Call Registry mainly addresses covered telemarketing; it does not make every unwanted call illegal or prevent fraud.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act and related federal rules may apply to some calls. Whether a particular call violated the law depends on details such as consent, caller identity, purpose, timing, and call frequency. Keep your evidence. Don't treat a complaint as a guaranteed private claim.

Frequently asked questions

Does pressing 1 confirm that my number is active?

It may connect you to a live operator or another menu, but you don't need to find out. Hang up and report the call instead.

Can a real business or agency call me?

Yes. Some legitimate organizations make outbound calls. A real name or local number still isn't proof. Verify it through an official channel, and never rely on threats or urgent payment demands.

Is a local caller-ID number safe?

No. Caller ID can be spoofed, so the displayed number does not prove who called or where the call originated.

Can robocall blockers stop every scam?

No. Blocking and spam-labeling tools can reduce unwanted calls, but scammers can change numbers, spoof caller ID, and leave new messages. Your verification process remains the most reliable protection.

Are online robocall recordings reliable?

Not necessarily. A recording posted without a clear source, date, and original file may be edited, mislabeled, or unrelated to the displayed number. Use recordings to document what you received, not to prove the caller's identity. Keep the original voicemail if you report the call.

If a call just claimed there's a warrant, a fake order, or a relative in trouble, hang up and check the official app or a number you already have. Then file the script and displayed number at ReportFraud.gov.