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Crypto scam calls run on scripts, and there are five main ones: the fake police or jury duty call, fake tech support, the fake bank fraud department, the grandchild in trouble, and the "investment group." Each opens with an authority or an emergency, then tells you to stay on the line and tell no one, then asks for a payment you can't undo. You don't have to argue with any of them. Learn one line, "I'll call you back on a number I look up myself," and hang up.
Why scam calls follow a script
Most of these calls come from call centers, and call centers work from scripts. The words change. The order doesn't. A script you've heard once is much harder to fall for.
In a public service announcement on September 17, 2026, its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) said it received nearly 61,000 complaints about people posing as law enforcement or government officials between January 2025 and July 2026, with losses of more than $1.6 billion. Fake jury duty and missed-court-date calls alone produced 6,833 complaints and nearly $36 million in losses. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report puts the two big call center scams, tech or customer support and government impersonation, at more than 80,000 complaints and over $2.9 billion in losses in 2025.
The lines below are built from FBI, FTC and CFTC descriptions of these calls. Callers improvise, so the words vary. The beats don't.
The five crypto scam call scripts, word for word
1. The fake police or jury duty call
What you'll hear: "This is Deputy Miller with the county sheriff's office. You failed to appear for jury duty, and a judge has signed a warrant for your arrest. You can clear it today by posting a bond. Do not hang up, and do not discuss this with anyone, because the case is sealed."
The caller ID may show the real sheriff's office: the FBI says these callers spoof real agency numbers and staff names.
Say this back: "I'll call the sheriff's office myself." Then hang up and look up the agency's number yourself. The FBI says officials never call or text to demand any form of payment. Our police warrant bitcoin scam guide walks through this call minute by minute.
2. The fake tech support call
What you'll hear: "This is the security department. Your computer is sending us error reports, and it's been hacked. Go to this website so I can connect and fix it. While I'm in, open your bank account so we can check for charges."
It often starts with a pop-up and a number to call. The FBI's "Phantom Hacker" alert describes the next move: remote access, a fake scan, then a request to open your financial accounts so the scammer can see which one holds the most.
Say this back: "I don't let anyone into my computer." Then hang up and restart the computer.
3. The fake bank fraud department call
What you'll hear: "This is the fraud department at your bank. A foreign hacker has accessed your accounts. To protect your money, we need to move it to a secure account today. Don't tell the teller why you're withdrawing it, because the hacker may work at your branch."
This is phase two of the Phantom Hacker scam. The FBI says the fake bank rep tells victims to move money to a "safe" account, sometimes said to be at the Federal Reserve, by wire, cash or crypto. A related FBI alert from January 2024 describes a courier version, where a stranger collects your cash or gold at the door.
Say this back: "I'll call the number on the back of my card." The CFTC's August 2026 advisory puts it plainly: no government agency, legitimate financial institution or reputable company will tell you to move money using crypto ATMs, gift cards or couriers.
4. The grandchild in trouble call
What you'll hear: "Grandma, it's me. I've been in an accident and I'm in jail. I need money for bail. Please don't tell Mom and Dad." Then a second voice: "I'm the public defender. Bail is $9,000, and a courier can pick it up within the hour."
The FTC's grandkid scam advice is simple: stop, check it out, and look up your grandchild's number yourself or call another family member. The voice may sound right. The FBI warned in December 2024 that criminals use AI to generate short audio clips in a loved one's voice asking for money in a crisis.
Say this back: "What's our family word?" No answer? Hang up and call your grandchild on the number you already have. The FBI recommends a family secret word for exactly this.
5. The "investment group" call
What you'll hear: "I'm calling from an investment group that works with a few private clients. Our crypto program has been returning about 2% a week, and we have one spot open. You don't need to understand the technology. I'll walk you through the app and stay on the line while you set it up."
This one runs for weeks. The app shows profits that aren't real, and withdrawals come with "taxes" or "fees." Most people inside one don't know it: when the FBI contacted 3,780 crypto investment fraud victims through Operation Level Up, 78% were unaware they were being scammed, according to the 2025 Internet Crime Report. Our pig butchering guide covers how this script plays out.
Say this back: "I don't invest with anyone who calls me." Then hang up.
⚠ Red flag
Two lines appear in almost every script: "Don't hang up" and "Don't tell anyone." No real officer or banker needs either. The CFTC says scammers stay on the phone during the transaction and coach you on what to say to others. If a caller tells you what to say to your bank teller, it's a scam.
The bitcoin ATM caller scripts
Many of these scripts end at a bitcoin ATM, which turns cash into crypto that can't be pulled back. The FBI's May 2026 kiosk alert counted more than 13,400 complaints involving crypto kiosks in 2025, with losses over $388 million.
| Script | What the caller says | What's really happening | Your line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government | "Pay the bond at this kiosk and the warrant is cleared today." | No court or agency takes payment at a crypto ATM | "I'll pay the court clerk in person." |
| Tech support | "Your accounts were hacked. Put your cash through this machine to protect it." | Real tech support never sends you to a crypto ATM | "I'll call my bank myself." |
| QR code | "Scan this code. It's the secure government wallet." | The code is the scammer's own wallet address | "I don't scan codes from strangers." |
| Grandparent | "Bail has to be in bitcoin because it's after hours." | Bail is paid to a court or jail, not a kiosk | "I'll call the jail myself." |
| "Send it to this wallet" | "Move your savings into crypto and send it to this wallet so nobody can touch it." | Whoever holds that wallet can touch it: the scammer | "I only send to wallets I made." |
The FBI's advice covers every row: don't scan a QR code for someone you've never met, don't send crypto to an unknown caller who says they're family, and if the kiosk operator calls to say it looks like fraud, stop. Our guide to how a bitcoin ATM works shows why someone else's QR code is the whole trick.
Why one line back works better than an argument
Scripts have answers for your questions. Ask for a badge number and you'll get one. One line ends the call without a debate. The CFTC's advice: end the call, then contact the bank, agency or company yourself on a verified number, never one the caller gave you, and talk to someone you trust before you move money.
Not sure about a call? Try our is this a scam? quiz or the Scams hub.
Prefer to watch? What the fake sheriff says, word for word, in under a minute.
Read the video transcript
The sheriff never calls asking for bitcoin. So if you hear these lines, word for word, hang up. One: "This is Deputy Miller. You missed jury duty, and a judge signed a warrant for your arrest." Two: "You can clear it today with a bond. Don't hang up, and don't tell your bank." Three: "Withdraw cash, go to this bitcoin ATM, and scan the QR code I text you." That code is the scammer's own wallet. The FBI says it got nearly sixty-one thousand complaints about fake police and government officials from January 2025 to July 2026, with more than one point six billion dollars lost. Real officers never call or text to demand payment. So learn one line: "I'll call the sheriff's office myself." Then hang up, and find the number on the agency's own website. What name did the fake deputy give when he called you? Get our free checklist, Check a Token in 10 Minutes, at defimarketjournal.com.
A printable hang-up card
Print this box or copy it onto an index card, and keep it by the phone. Our guide to protecting parents from crypto scams covers how to bring it up without a fight.
Hang-up card: keep by the phone
If a caller says any of these, hang up:
- "There's a warrant" or "You missed jury duty."
- "Your computer or bank account has been hacked."
- "Move your money to a secure account."
- "Don't hang up" or "Don't tell anyone, not even the bank."
- "Pay at a bitcoin ATM," "Scan this QR code," "Buy gift cards" or "A courier will pick it up."
- "Grandma, I'm in jail and need bail money."
What I say: "I'll call you back on a number I look up myself."
Who I call first: ______________________ (a family member) Our family word: ____________
My bank's number (from the back of my card): ______________________
Remember: no police officer, court, bank or government agency will ever ask me to pay with crypto, a bitcoin ATM, gift cards or a courier.
If you already paid
Stop sending money. Every script has a second fee waiting. Then work fast.
- Call your bank's fraud line on the number from your card. If you wired money, ask for a recall right away.
- Call the kiosk operator on the number printed on the machine or receipt if you paid at a bitcoin ATM. Some states now require refunds; our bitcoin ATM scam refund guide lists them.
- Report it to local police and to the FBI at ic3.gov, typed in by hand. Our first 24 hours plan puts every step in order.
- Ignore anyone who offers recovery for a fee. See our recovery scam guide.
Rob's take
I spent 18 years in PR, so I know a script when I hear one. Talking points only work while the other person keeps answering. These callers fear silence and a hang-up more than any question you could ask. Being rude is fine. Being polite and hanging up is better. The real sheriff will still be there when you call back.
Want the warning signs on one page? Get our free Scam Texts and Emails one-page check when you join the Sunday Briefing.
Crypto scam call scripts FAQ
What do scammers say when they call?
They open with an authority or an emergency: a deputy with a warrant, tech support, your bank's fraud department, a grandchild in jail or an investment group. Then they tell you to stay on the line and tell no one, and end with a payment you can't undo, such as a bitcoin ATM, gift cards, a wire or a courier.
What should I say to a scam caller?
One line: "I'll call you back on a number I look up myself." Then hang up. Don't argue or confirm personal details. Call the agency, bank or relative on a number you already had, or one from the official website you typed in yourself. Never search for words the caller gave you.
Will the police or a court ever call me to pay a fine?
No. The FBI says law enforcement and government officials will never call or text to demand any form of payment, and never ask for prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or a courier.
Can scammers fake a family member's voice?
Yes. The FBI warned in December 2024 that criminals use AI to fake a loved one's voice asking for money. Agree on a family code word, and if a caller can't give it, hang up and call your relative on the number you already have.
What if I already sent money after a scam call?
Stop paying, call your bank's fraud line, and ask for a recall if you sent a wire. For a bitcoin ATM, call the operator on the number on the machine or receipt. Report it to police and at ic3.gov, and ignore anyone offering recovery for a fee.
Want to learn every script before it reaches your phone? Take our free course, Scam-Proof in 7 Days, one short lesson a day.