The New Wave of Government Smishing Scams — When Authority Is Weaponized
The New Wave of Government Smishing Scams — When Authority Is Weaponized From Annoying Scams to Psychological Attacks Scammers used to rely on robocalls and poorly written phishing emails. Most people learned to ignore them. But fraud doesn’t disappear—it evolves. The newest and fastest-growing threat is far more sophisticated and far more dangerous: government-themed smishing scams . These scams don’t ask politely. They don’t give you time to think. They impersonate police departments, traffic enforcement agencies, courts, or federal authorities and demand immediate action. Payment now. Resolve now. Click now. And they work—because they weaponize authority. Why Fear of Authority Overrides Logic Human psychology is wired to respond instantly to perceived authority. When a message claims to come from law enforcement or a government agency, the brain shifts into fight-or-flight mode. Rational thinking slows down. Fear takes over. Fraud experts refer to this tactic as authority exp...