Consumer Alert
Did someone tell you to move or transfer your money? It could be a scam
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Many impersonation schemes start with a call about a routine problem, like suspicious activity in your Amazon account. But in a new twist, the story quickly takes a more serious turn when you’re told someone is using your information to commit crimes and all your money is at risk.
The caller convinces you that the court will seize the money in your bank account or retirement savings. The person you’re talking to — who claims to be a helpful agent from the FTC, or another agency or organization — is really a scammer. The only way to protect your money or clear your good name, the scammer says, is to quickly transfer it to a more secure account. Or, they tell you to cash out your savings to put in a box or buy cryptocurrency or gold bars. The truth is, instead of protecting your money, you’re about to lose all your savings. The scammer controls the new bank or cryptocurrency accounts or sends someone to pick up the gold bars or boxes of cash “for safekeeping.”
How can you tell it’s a scam? If the caller says you need to buy gift cards, go to a cryptocurrency ATM, or go to the bank in person while they stay on the phone with you, that’s a scammer. And if the caller tells you to lie to anyone who asks why you’re transferring or withdrawing so much money, that’s also a clear sign of a scam.
Here’s what else to know and do about this scam:
- The FTC will never tell you to move your money to “protect” it. Anyone who does is a scammer impersonating the FTC.
- Ignore all unexpected requests for money. Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, or gold to someone you don’t know in response to an unexpected call or message.
- Verify the story. If you think there’s a real problem with one of your accounts, use a phone number, website, or app you know is real to contact the company. Don’t use contact information in the message you got.
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Our Anatomy of an Imposter Scam blog series breaks down how to recognize, avoid, and report business and government imposter scams.
- Never move your money to “protect it.” That’s a scam
- What’s a verification code and why would someone ask me for it?
- Will your bank or investment fund stop a transfer to a scammer? Probably not
- Sure ways to spot a scammer
- Did you get a call or text about a suspicious purchase on Amazon? It’s a scam
- New tech support scammers want your life savings
- Did someone send you to a Bitcoin ATM? It’s a scam
Very helpful information!!!
I have multiple victims of this scam,,ugh!!
It happened to me!
Someone asked me for my bank acct numbers so they could put money in it that I had "loaned" them.
It showed that the money was there. Then a couple days later it wasn't & MY money wasn't either. I'm still paying it off. One bank was very helpful The other said so sad so sorry.
That card is being canceled when it's paid off. I am so stupid.
Yes this has happened to me.
I reported this to you about Amazon and you never got back.
What do you do when you've fallen for this scam?
In reply to What do you do when you've… by Nancy Chambers
This FTC article explains what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer, or gave a scammer your personal information or access to your computer or phone: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.
Good to know!
I moved how much money
Someone has been using my email to get money out of people.
So thankful for this website eith information.
Thank you dot gov :-)
Than You for your always timely update about scammer practices.
Thank you for your suggestions and opinions.
my computer was locked up on Microsoft edge. I called and they said some one hacked my IP
address and was watching child porn. Said I had to write a check and put all my money in a
special account to protect it. Told him I wasn't going to move my money anywhere and hung up the phone. Changed the password on my bank account to br safe Said the ftc would investigate me and make me pay for it.
Thanks for the warning. Maybe this will help someone else.
I'm Japanese
I got ripped off by American
on internet.
Please help me
A long story short: My internet suddenly popped up 'suspicious threat' from 'Windows Defender' call this # 800, etc. Scared that someone was going to snatch up personal info and bank cards, etc. I called the number. I spoke to someone called 'David Turner' who had a thick accent, who ultimately began using MY mouse to take over my board...he sent me a 'code' number to my phone (I never gave him that) and told me 'someone's trying to get into your bank acct so send me that code now and I can stop it'. "I'm not sending you any code to access MY bank acct" and turned off my computer. I let the police and my bank know plus I took my computer to Staples where they found the viruses. This was a huge learning experience for this 72 yo! Never again! 'Windows' will never send this type of message, know that this was a scam.
Dear Sir:
I do not have an account with Amazon. This problem has been on-going. please report this to the athorities,
K. Gaston
No one has told me to transfer ay money to any account.
K. Gaston
Keep on giving great information to the public.
Thank you . This information is very helpful to so many.
Wow, people these days will believe anything anyone tells them. With the rise of AI, deep fakes and impersonation not to mention fraud, fakes and counterfeiting, we need to be even MORE cautious with our money and our information, not less. Gold bars, really?!?! 😂
This same thing happened with me. Is there any way to get my money back from a BIT coin machine cash deposit?
In reply to This same thing happened… by Anonymous
This FTC article explains what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.
Someone claiming to be an Ice agent with DHS called from a number on the ice.gov secure website. They instead that I had been implicated in money laundering and drug running. They insisted that the Colombian and Mexican government would seize my account and if I hung up I would be arrested. The insisted I transfer funds to crypto. And stayed on the line for 8 hours with me. They had/have so much personal information.
Computer went down, said it was a problem with microsoft, called microsoft, they fixed the problem spoke with Johnathon chen ID scc24361, he directed me to the FTC spoke with David Wilson ID ms830465, h said my account was compromised and a lock was going to be put on my bank account, he instructed me to go to walmart and get a card for $400.00 which I did, I gave him the numbers on the card, he asked me to send him a picture of the card, when I tried to do this the call was lost, THe number he called from was not listed on my recent calls
In reply to Computer went down, said it… by jolene m rosoce
Please report what happened at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov, so the information goes into the FTC's law enforcement database. Law enforcement agencies across the country use the database for investigations and to bring cases, and your information will help. Thank you.
This just happened to me. $8,000… basically everything I have to my name. I’ve tried the banks, police and no one seems to care. If anyone could point me in the right direction for someone to talk to. It would be greatly appreciated. Luck to all.
In reply to This just happened to me. $8… by Trevor
This FTC article has ideas about what to do if you paid someone a scammer: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.
On 2/21/24 Ari 10:19am I received a robo phone call from an agency called Concora services credit (1-800-303-2511)I have credit card debt with my account and it is currently two months past due. They asked if I would like to make payments over the phone to bring my account up to date or current and of course I refused because I’ve heard of and don’t have any accounts with their agency. Then was told that if it continues to be delinquent they’ll report it to credit agencies which would hurt my credit score.
I think this is happening to me as we speak. Same MicroSoft internet warning, same individual wanting access to my computer, same individual from my apparent bank telling me I need to transfer money because of child porn. Got a call from someone who is suppose to be a DOJ lawyer representing me because of the porn. Contacted his office and they said it sounds like a scam.
I have people in Japan, Mexico and other places in the world asking to change "their paycheck deposit". I don't do that, and know they are scammers. They send emails from the CEO and owner of the company.
They have sent me "their" bank account with Greendot and Metabank, and can not find a place to tell Greendot and Metabank that the accounts are being used for scams. Anyone know how to contact them?