According to the FTC, scammers posing as FTC agents send fake photo ID images to build legitimacy. They then attempt to push targets into “refund and recovery” payment scams.

The FTC says scammers are increasingly using a two-step approach to steal money by impersonating government authority. First, the fraudster contacts a target and claims affiliation with the FTC, leveraging the trust associated with federal enforcement and consumer protection. Next, the scam escalates by sending a photo that is purported to be an FTC employee identification image. The FTC stresses that genuine FTC staff won’t use this kind of text-based photo ID verification process to establish identity. The reason the tactic matters is that it is meant to disarm skepticism and create a “verified” feeling—so victims will comply with subsequent instructions. After the initial trust-building message, the scam shifts to a “refund and recovery” pitch, where victims are told they can receive money back or recover losses through the scammer’s help. At that point, scammers typically seek payment or further financial information to continue the supposed recovery process. This pattern can be especially convincing to people who recently experienced fraud or who are actively trying to recoup money. The FTC’s guidance is focused on preventing that leap from credibility to compliance: if the contact is trying to verify identity via text photo ID, it should be treated as a red flag. The safer path is to avoid making payments to such contacts and to verify any claims through official, non-text channels.