FBI Louisville warns of various scams targeting Kentuckians

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office is warning the public about an increase in scams targeting Kentuckians.

Officials say these scams include unsolicited phone calls where scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials to gain money or to steal personal information.

According to the FBI Louisville Field Office, scammers contact victims using spoofed phone numbers and other tactics to appear trustworthy.

Currently, the FBI Louisville states the most prevalent type of scam it has seen is a scammer impersonating a local sheriff’s office. During these scams, officials say the caller accuses a victim of failing to show for jury duty or missing a court date and may claim an arrest warrant is active against that victim.

Authorities say scammers pressure victims to immediately pay a fine to avoid an arrest or other consequences.

In addition, officials say scammers may use Artificial Intelligence, provide official looking court documents or may have personal information about the victim.

These scams can also be seen in emails, officials say.

Signs of these scams include an urgent and aggressive tone, refusal to speak or to leave a message with anyone other than the victim and urging victims not to tell anyone about what is happening.

Payment is demanded in several forms, with the most common being cash deposited into cryptocurrency ATMs, prepaid cards and wire transfers, officials say.

The FBI Louisville Field Office says law enforcement and FBI agencies will not call the public to demand payment or to threaten arrest, nor will they request or accept payment using cryptocurrency ATMs.

Last year, the FBI states its Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 39,949 complaints regarding government impersonation scams, with victim losses surpassing $833 million nationwide.

In Kentucky, officials say 475 complaints were received through IC3 in 2025, and victim losses exceeded $3.15 million.

To avoid being scammed, the FBI advises to:

• “Take a beat” before acting
• Resist pressure tactics and take time to asses if the situation is real
• To not provide or verify personally identifiable information to someone they have only met online, over the phone or through unsolicited contact.
• To not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other assets to individuals they have not met in person.
• Learn more about scam prevention at www.fbi.gov/takeabeat

If you believe you are a victim of this scam, or any other online fraud scheme, timely reporting is key. Cease all contact with the scammers immediately, notify your financial institution and safeguard all financial accounts, contact your local law enforcement, and file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.