March 5, 2026, Declared "National Slam the Scam Day" to Combat Government Imposter Fraud

Ever gotten a call or email that just felt… off? Like someone claiming to be from the IRS demanding immediate payment, or Medicare asking for your Social Security number over the phone? This new resolution is all about shining a spotlight on those exact situations, officially designating March 5, 2026, as "National Slam the Scam Day." The goal is simple: arm you with the knowledge to spot these government imposter scams and protect your wallet.

The Cost of Impostors

This isn't just about a few bad actors; these scams are a massive problem. The resolution points out that in the first three quarters of 2025 alone, the Federal Trade Commission saw over $12 billion in total fraud losses, with more than $700 million tied directly to imposter scams. Think about that: a significant chunk of change that everyday folks, maybe even your neighbor or your aunt, are losing. It also highlights a pretty stark reality: one in four people reported losing money to scams, with a median loss of $500. For older adults, it's even worse, with a four-fold increase since 2020 in losses of $10,000 or more, sometimes wiping out entire life savings. This isn't just numbers; it's someone's retirement, their kid's college fund, or simply their hard-earned cash.

Your Role in Slamming the Scam

The resolution isn't just about recognizing a problem; it's about empowering you. It encourages everyone to get smart about these scams, which often involve fraudsters pretending to be from agencies like the Social Security Administration or the IRS via mail, phone, text, email, or social media. The idea is to make sure you know that legitimate government agencies don't typically demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask for sensitive personal information over the phone or email out of the blue.

What to Do When Scammers Come Calling

So, what's the game plan? The resolution encourages a few key actions. First, ignore solicitations from anyone falsely claiming to represent a government agency. If it feels fishy, it probably is. Second, share information about these scams with your family and friends. A quick heads-up to your parents or grandparents could save them a huge headache. And third, report government imposter scams to the right places, like the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or the Federal Trade Commission. Think of it as a community effort to protect each other and keep our money where it belongs: in our own pockets.