Scammers spoof FBI Boston’s main phone number and claim the victim is speaking with an FBI agent. The fraud pressures victims to switch to an encrypted app before verification, increasing risks of identity theft and account takeover.

According to the FBI Boston warning highlighted by StopScam.ai, scammers use caller ID/number spoofing to disguise their outreach as the FBI. Victims receive calls that claim they are speaking with an FBI agent, and the interaction is designed to create urgency and confusion—key ingredients in successful impersonation fraud. Rather than completing verification through legitimate channels, the callers attempt to steer the victim toward an encrypted application before any real verification occurs. This step matters because encrypted apps can be used to conceal the scammer’s identity, hamper account recovery, and facilitate follow-on theft. By pushing victims away from official investigation workflows and onto attacker-controlled communications, the scammers aim to prevent the victim from checking whether the call is genuine. StopScam.ai notes the approach can enable additional fraud, including identity theft and potential account compromise, since attackers may use the victim’s personal information, authentication details, or device access gained during the conversation. The guidance emphasizes treating unexpected “FBI agent” calls that request switching apps or moving off standard verification methods as a red flag.