SCAM LIBRARY · IMPERSONATION

The refund overpayment call

A scammer pretends to represent a company or government agency and claims you were overpaid, then pressures you to send money back immediately.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive a call from someone claiming to work for a familiar organization—like a utility company, government benefit program, or employer. They say their records show you received too much money and must repay it right away, often creating urgency by threatening account closure or legal trouble. They then direct you to send funds via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.

Red flags

• Caller demands immediate payment to avoid serious consequences (account freeze, legal action, benefit loss)
• You're asked to send money via wire, gift card, prepaid card, or cryptocurrency—methods that are hard to reverse
• Caller refuses to let you hang up and verify through official channels, or claims verification "isn't possible"

What to do

• Hang up and independently contact the organization using a phone number from their official website or bill—never use a number the caller provided
• Legitimate companies and agencies do not demand immediate payment via untraceable methods; if you're genuinely owed a refund, they will mail a check or credit your account
• Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov