Consumer Alert
The FTC will never ask you to send money
If someone claiming to be with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contacts you and asks you to send money, it’s a scam. Do not pay. Report it. Spread the word to your family and friends.
We’ve received reports that imposters are calling, emailing, even texting or faxing, and pretending to be with the FTC, in an attempt to gain your trust and to steal your hard-earned money. They’re contacting people about fake prize winnings, grants, or refunds, or saying you’re in trouble and need to pay delinquent accounts or fees. Their goal is to either excite or scare you into sending money. The truth is, the FTC does not call, email, text, or fax consumers to ask for payment. Those are scams. In fact, the Department of Justice just announced that two scammers who impersonated the FTC (and the SEC) were found guilty of scamming people out of $10 million.
The FTC does distribute money to people after suing entities for unlawful practices. In fact, according to our 2017 Annual Report, 6.28 million people received checks from the FTC between July 2016 and June 2017.
However, the FTC will NEVER ask you to send money or provide bank account information to get your money back. If you are entitled to a refund from a FTC lawsuit, you will usually receive a check or claim form with details about the case. The case will be listed in our chart of recent cases resulting in refunds. You can call the number associated with the case on our website if you have any questions.
Imposters won’t stop at just using the FTC’s name. They’ll use the names of any people or organizations you trust. Dealing with imposters in real time can be difficult. But it’s important to take note of not just the story that they tell, but also how they ask you to pay. If they ask you to pay by wiring them money, getting iTunes cards, or putting money on a MoneyPak, Vanilla Reload, or Reloadit card, it’s a scam.
If someone impersonating the FTC has contacted you, do not pay, report it, and spread the word. It may help someone close to you avoid a scam.
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Contacted FCC & FTC about annoying phone calls from "Cellphone, IN" 765-707-7860 "Michael" asking for $5,000. I've either hung up immediately or not answered his 2-3 calls daily since Dec. Now, he's calling from the following numbers also: 765-786-7412 "Unavailable", or 606-475-9354 "Karen L. Sherman" or 402-498-4656 "Travelers Co." PLEASE HELP! I'm frightened
In reply to Contacted FCC & FTC about by Scared to answ…
You have options for blocking calls you don't want to answer. Read about using technology to block unwanted calls.
You can report the calls at ftc.gov/DoNotCall.
In reply to Contacted FCC & FTC about by Scared to answ…
Wire transfer to my mastercard. My money order..
In reply to I've has several people by Debbie N
That sounds like a government grant scam. The Federal Reserve does not give grants to individual people.
If someone says you will get a grant, but they want you to pay money first, it is definitely a scam. Read more about government grant scams.
In reply to I've been receiving magazines by D
In reply to It's my understanding that by P.J.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, when you receive merchandise that you didn’t order, you don’t have to pay for it. Federal laws prohibit mailing unordered merchandise to consumers and then demanding payment. Read more about your rights and unordered merchandise.
In reply to I've been receiving magazines by D
In reply to I've been receiving magazines by D
In reply to I've been receiving magazines by D
janettyelleno8o @ gmail.com received an email from the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. that I would receive 5.5 million dollars. If I pay Gay m. Campell via Walmart . in pittsburg pennsilvainia . 400.00 usd
In reply to janettyelleno8o@gmail.com by Steven B.
In reply to The FBI is after me all the by Fiona
In reply to Not long ago AT@T sent me a by larry dieter
In reply to I have been hearing radio by rpuns
No, the government is not giving away money. Some scams say you qualify for a “free grant” to pay for education, home repairs or unpaid bills. Others pretend to be a “government” agency or some other organization with an official sounding name.
Don't give your bank account information to someone you don't know. Don't give them personal information, and don't pay to get a "free grant." Read more about grant scams.
In reply to I have been scammed for a by Tutte
The person who contacted you three weeks ago could be another scammer. Sometimes, scammers work together. After one person scams you, he gives your name to another scammer. Soon, the next scammer contacts you and pretends he will help you. If you answer, he asks for money to "help" you get a refund. Really, it is a scam too.
You can report the person to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint, and to Facebook. You can report them to the wire transfer company you used. Call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 or the MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400.
You might get more friend requests from people connected to the scammers. If you send money, you will probably lose the money.
In reply to Phone call made from 843-401 by WORRIED
In reply to I have been contacted by by KRF
In reply to i got the same kind of thing by isel
The FTC does not call people and tell them to wire money. The people who called you were scammers. The scammers might call or text again, because you paid them one time. They might try to get more money from you.
The FTC, IRS and other government agencies will not call or text you and tell you to wire money immediately. That is what scammers say.
If someone says you owe money, tell them to send a letter that explains what you owe. If you really owe a debt, a legitimate debt collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling how much money you owe. The notice must show the name of the creditor you owe money to, and say what you can do if you don’t think you owe the money.