What’s circulating — and why it matters for trucking
Truckers are sharing a new robocall recording that claims to be a “public announcement” from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, warning about IRS problems and urging listeners to “press 1” — with a special prompt “for truckers.” Whether you’re an owner-operator or run a fleet, this is a classic government-impersonation ploy designed to harvest personal data or push you into a high‑pressure payment scheme. Federal agencies do not broadcast regulatory announcements by robocall, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) and its agencies do not use telemarketers to collect fees or sensitive business information.
Scammers are exploiting real headlines
Fraudsters often piggyback on legitimate news to sound convincing. DOT has been prominent in recent weeks — including disputes over state enforcement of English‑language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and threats to withhold federal funds. That very real policy fight has been covered by major outlets and could be fueling impersonation scripts that name-drop the secretary to grab your attention. If a call urges you to press a key or share EINs, Social Security numbers, bank details, or to make a payment “to stay compliant,” hang up.
Red flags: how to spot the fake
- “Press 1 to speak to an agent” or “Press X to be removed” prompts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that responding to prompts confirms your number and can trigger more calls. Don’t press anything — just hang up.
- Claims to be IRS or another federal office demanding immediate payment, threatening arrest, license revocation, or deportation. The IRS does not call out of the blue to demand payment; if you owe taxes, you’ll get letters first.
- Requests for sensitive data (EIN, SSN, DOT/MC PIN) or payment via wire, gift cards, or peer‑to‑peer apps. These are hallmark scam tactics; legitimate agencies do not collect this way.
- Caller ID spoofing of government numbers or familiar local lines. Spoofing is trivial for scammers; don’t trust the display.
- References to “compliance fees,” “urgent DOT updates,” or “safety audit scheduling” via phone solicitations. FMCSA specifically warns it does not use telemarketers or robocalls to request documents or collect payments.
If you engaged or pressed a button, do this now
- Stop contact and block the number. Document the call details (time, script, number shown).
- Report it. File a report at the FTC’s fraud portal and, for IRS‑themed calls, report to TIGTA and email the details to the IRS phishing mailbox with “IRS Phone Scam” in the subject line.
- Protect your credentials. If you shared business information, change passwords on your FMCSA Portal, ELD back office, IFTA, payroll, and banking accounts. Monitor for new credit inquiries; consider a credit freeze.
- Train your team. Dispatchers, safety managers, and drivers should know to treat any “government” call demanding instant action as suspect. Establish an internal rule: no EIN/SSN/banking info ever given by phone to unsolicited callers.
How to verify any “official” trucking notice
When in doubt, go to the source. Check the DOT or FMCSA press rooms and your FMCSA Portal for notices; contact your state enforcement office or FMCSA Division office directly using published numbers — not numbers provided in a voicemail. Remember: FMCSA says communications requesting documents will come from official @dot.gov addresses or through your portal, not robocalls.
Bottom line for owner‑ops and fleets
Scammers are targeting trucking because your publicly listed DOT contact info makes you easy to reach — and regulatory headlines give their scripts a veneer of legitimacy. Real policy shifts, like the recent federal actions involving state enforcement of English‑language rules, will be announced via official channels and reported by reputable outlets — not by an automated voice asking you to “press 1.” Treat any such call as a scam and report it so others in the industry don’t get burned.
Action checklist for fleets:
- Enable call filtering on company phones; consider a third‑party call‑screening service.
- Publish an internal reporting channel for suspicious calls and share weekly scam bulletins with drivers.
- Lock down sensitive data flows; centralize all government correspondence through one trained compliance contact.
- Audit who can access EIN, SSN, bank and portal credentials — and enable MFA everywhere it’s offered.
Stay skeptical, verify through .gov channels you initiate, and keep your drivers and business data safe.
Sources Consulted: Associated Press; Reuters; Federal Trade Commission; Internal Revenue Service; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Politico; user‑submitted recording of a robocall posted to YouTube.
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