Consumer Alert
Scammers pretend to be the FTC again
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Scammers are back at it, pretending to be FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and staff at the FTC. They’re emailing, saying there’s an award ready to be collected (for a fee), or an outstanding COVID issue requiring your immediate attention (and, ultimately, money). But it’s NOT the FTC emailing. And even if they switch to phone calls or the messages switch, those are scammers.
Here are a few things to know:
- The FTC won’t email, call, text, or message you to ask for money or information. Not your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number. Not your birthdate. And never, ever money.
- The FTC doesn’t give awards or funds related to COVID-19. Anybody who says the FTC has a prize or award for you, or has a benefit related to COVID-19 — that’s a scammer.
- Only scammers will demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or money transfer. Period. Scammers love getting you to pay in those ways because it’s easy for them to disappear with your money — and hard for you to get it back.
If you get an email from anyone asking for personal information or money, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And please tell the FTC if you spot scammers pretending to be any Commissioner or staff at the agency. Because none of us are emailing or calling to ask you for money, and we want to try to stop those who are.
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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
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that is sad and now there back on my back but this that around i have more tricks so i will have some emails and names for you in a couple of days
Ftc should hire agent to will complaint. Hire from each state.
I have received numerous fraudulent emails from many national companies saying that I have won money, products, etc. I have deleted all of them. Their return email addresses are just a little off but they are hoping the American public is too excited/greedy to notice.
I use your fraud reporting quite often. I notice that my robo calls have been cut in half. Thanks for what you do.
Good afternoon con you all please alert me through text messages thank you
Thank you all for all your help!!
It boggles my mind that there is no way that our government cannot stop this unbelievable nefarious behavior. We are too weak on our punishment for crimes. Up the Anti to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1 million dollars for starters. Pass stricter laws.