Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
March 13 , 2025
Washington, DC - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued an urgent warning about a new wave of text message scams, known as "smishing," that are targeting former federal employees across the United States. These fraudulent messages claim to be from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and offer fired workers the opportunity to return to their jobs.
The scam comes in the wake of recent turmoil within the federal workforce, where Musk and DOGE have been involved in controversial mass layoffs and productivity assessments. Cybercriminals are exploiting this situation to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing sensitive personal and financial information.
According to the FBI, the text messages typically contain a message similar to: "DOGE: You have been selected for reinstatement. Click here to confirm your return to work." The agency strongly advises recipients to delete these messages immediately without opening or interacting with them in any way.
This latest smishing attack is part of a broader trend of cybercrime that has seen a significant uptick in recent months. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has recorded over 2,000 reports related to fraudulent text messages since the beginning of the year.
Cybersecurity experts warn that clicking on links in these messages could lead to identity theft or financial fraud. "These scammers are not just after your money; they're after your personal information, which can be used for far more damaging purposes," said a senior FBI official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The FBI recommends the following steps for those who receive suspicious text messages:
- Do not click on any links or respond to the message.
- Delete the message immediately.
- Report the incident to the FBI's IC3 website.
- If you have concerns about your employment status, contact your agency's human resources department directly through official channels.
This smishing campaign follows a controversial mass email sent by Musk and DOGE to federal employees, requesting them to list their weekly accomplishments. The confusion and anxiety caused by that incident may have created fertile ground for scammers to exploit.
As the threat continues to evolve, the FBI urges all smartphone users to remain vigilant and to verify any unexpected communications, especially those claiming to be from government agencies or high-profile figures like Elon Musk.
The agency emphasizes that legitimate government communications about employment status are typically sent through official channels, not via text messages. By staying informed and cautious, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks.
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