FTC Warns of Imposter Scam Threatening to Cut Off Your Phone Number

Scammers have a simple pitch: the threat is to your phone line, and the way out is to hand them something. A fraudulent call or message claims to come from a phone carrier or another trusted service and warns that your number is about to be disconnected, suspended, or deactivated. The urgency is the point. Victims are told they must act right away or lose service.

The Federal Trade Commission's warning centers on this kind of impersonation. Imposter scams work because they borrow authority. The caller may sound official, cite a plausible reason for the problem, and steer the target toward a "fix" that actually serves the scammer, such as reading back a verification code, paying a reinstatement fee, or pressing a key that gives up access to the account.

Legitimate providers rarely cut off a line without warning, and they do not typically demand codes or payment through an unsolicited call. If a caller or text raises an alarm about your service, hang up and contact the company using a number printed on your bill or listed in its official app or website, not one the caller gave you.

Anyone who has already shared a code or payment details should contact their carrier and their bank right away. Suspicious calls can also be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.