.Gov: Your Best Defense Against Fake Government Websites
Steve Kelley
April 28, 2026•
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April 28, 2026•
We’ve all heard about deepfakes: fake images, fake videos, fake voices. But there’s another kind of fake that’s equally dangerous and doesn’t get nearly enough attention: fake government websites.
The goal of such websites is simple: to persuade consumers to enter their personal information (e.g., name, Social Security number (SSN), or bank details) by masquerading as a real government entity. It’s a highly effective tactic. The federal government loses an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion every year to fraud, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Government impersonation scams alone cost consumers over $1.1 billion in 2023, more than three times what was reported just three years earlier, according to the FTC.
If you work in or around federal programs, including benefits, citizen services, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention, then this is a problem you can’t ignore. For the public, the URL check is a fast filter. For agencies, it’s also a signal: the real fight starts after credentials are stolen.
Scammers and hackers are using AI tools to create fake websites that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. We’re talking about exact replicas of legitimate government sites, with the same layout, the same logos, and the same language. Anyone with $10 and a laptop can spin one up in an afternoon.
We’re all familiar with URL endings like .com, .org, .io, and .gov. These are called top-level domains (TLDs), and they’re intended to help internet users identify what kind of organization is behind a website. For example, .gov signals a U.S. government site, .edu signals an educational institution, and .com is used for general commercial purposes.
Most of us haven’t thought much about them. However, the super nerdy, like me, get excited by developments in the TLD world, for instance, when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened applications for new TLDs in 2012 and expanded the list from about 22 to over 1,500. Today, you can register a domain like myawesomesite.com, myawesomesite.ai, myawesomesite.family, or myawesomesite.love (the list goes on).
But with great opportunity comes great responsibility. With a wide range of TLDs available, it’s now easier than ever for fraudsters to create and disseminate convincing yet illegitimate government websites. It’s critical to remain vigilant when interacting with pseudo-government entities online.
Luckily, scammers cannot register .gov domains. Only verified U.S. government organizations can use a .gov domain. (The .gov program is managed by CISA) So, when a scammer builds a fake government website, they have to use a lookalike URL, like gsa-gov.org instead of gsa.gov. The GSA Office of Inspector General has issued a specific alert about this exact tactic.
Before you type anything sensitive into a pseudo-government website, take two seconds and scan the address bar. Ask yourself:
gsa-gov.org vs gsa.gov)?Don’t let the lock icon (HTTPS) convince you a site is official. Scammers can get HTTPS too. And, when in doubt, navigate from a trusted official directory or a known agency page instead of clicking a link.
In the community ed AI class I teach, this is the simplest and most important advice I give my students: Before you type your name, SSN, or credit card on any pseudo-government website, look at the URL.
If it doesn’t end in .gov, stop. Don’t click, don’t fill anything out, and don’t call any phone number on that page. Real government websites will always use a .gov address. Scammers know most people don’t bother to check, and that’s exactly what they’re counting on.
It takes two seconds to glance at the address bar, and those two seconds could save you thousands of dollars and a whole lot of headaches.
Checking the TLD is a great first line of defense, but it’s unfortunately not a complete failsafe. As a result, it’s important to understand what happens after someone enters their SSN or other sensitive information on a fake government website.
Sensitive data doesn’t just sit there. It gets sold, bundled, and deployed fast. Fraudsters use harvested credentials to file fraudulent benefit claims, open accounts under stolen identities, and impersonate real citizens at the point of government service delivery. The fake website is just the collection mechanism. The real damage happens downstream, when that stolen identity gets injected into a legitimate system.
Problematically, when someone uses data stolen from a fake government portal to apply for benefits, access federal services, or verify their identity online, the information they present looks completely real, because it is real. It’s just not theirs. Traditional verification methods struggle here because the credentials are valid.
Incode’s identity verification platform is built specifically to catch these kinds of injection attacks. We analyze the full picture in real time: Does the person presenting an identity actually match the identity being claimed? We cross-reference biometric signals, document authenticity, and behavioral patterns to distinguish a legitimate applicant from someone wielding a stolen SSN and a downloaded ID image. No matter how convincing the harvested data looks, the person behind the screen still has to be who they say they are.
Can scammers use .gov addresses?
No, because .gov domains are restricted to verified U.S. government organizations. That’s why scammers rely on lookalike URLs.
Are .gov addresses always safe?
It’s one of the strongest signals you’re on an official federal domain, but it’s not a guarantee that every page is risk-free. Always stay alert for suspicious links, unexpected requests for sensitive info, and anything that feels “off.”
What is a government impersonation scam website?
It’s a site designed to look like a real agency or benefits portal so it can collect personal information or direct you to call a fraudulent number.
How do I report a fake government website?
If you believe you found a government-impersonation site, report it through the appropriate federal channels (for example, the agency’s Office of Inspector General) and file a report with the FTC.
The scam doesn’t end when someone closes the fake tab. Check the TLD. Look for .gov. And if it’s not there, walk away. And for the agencies and organizations on the other side of that login screen, make sure your identity verification can catch what no URL check ever could.
Incode was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Identity Verification. Download the report.
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