Consumer Alert
The FTC won’t demand money, threaten you, or promise you a prize
Scammers want to gain your trust. That’s why they keep pretending to work for government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission. They might use the names of real FTC employees, but the stories they tell are a bunch of lies.
Scammers have a long list of tall tales they tell. They might say you won a prize (you didn’t) and must pay to collect it (you don’t). Or that there’s a virus on your computer or an issue with one of your accounts (there isn’t).
The scammers’ stories change, but here’s what won’t.
- The FTC will never call you to demand money.
- The FTC will never threaten you with arrest.
- The FTC will never promise you a prize.
Anyone who does is a scammer. Report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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So how might the real FTC communicate with you?
If you reported something to the FTC and provided an email address, you’ll get an email with advice about how to recover and protect yourself.
If you’re getting a refund or payment from an FTC case, you’ll get it by check, prepaid debit card, or PayPal. The payment or claim form will tell you more about the case and why you’re getting money. To see a list of FTC cases that resulted in refunds, the name of the company sending payments, and a phone number to call with questions, go to ftc.gov/refunds.
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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
THE LATEST SCAM IS SOMEONE CALLING AND SAYING THRY ARE FROM PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE AND YOU WON SECOND PRIZE IN THEIR SWEEPATAKES FOR 2.2 MILLION. I HAVE GOTTEN FOUR CALLS OF THIS TYPE IN THE LAST WEEK AND JUST HUNG UP ON THEM RATHER THANE WASTE MY TIME
it is good to know the scammers are sending false emails roaming around. we need this to be checked and chase them all from this field.
This is good information to educate the public to avoid scams issue.
It’s good to inform and learn in order to alert all the times.
about time someone is acknowdge these issues.
I had a so many incedents try to report bad actors to FTC then could not contact ftc. last may I used verizon phone and their service to call ftc and report verizon, amex. equifax but found that person I spoke were not FTC employee. never got the case number or the email from ftc. I kept record of phone history. date and time to ftc on this incedent.
Good to know where to report suspected Fraud.
If people don't act, these criminals just carry one with the damage.
Thanks for posting!
In reply to Thanks for posting! by Ben N. Huynh
Thank you for posting this information very valuable and helpful.
I was scammed a week ago. The Internet then my phone, I Supported Johnnie Drop thru his problems. Long story short, Supposedly he was calling me to say thank you. Than I started speaking for about 2 1/2 months, then other calls and asking for me to buy 2 gift cards a special brand I was shocked ,anyway the next day there was at least 300 missing, This is freightening!!!!l
Since the impersonator is using my name and as a is a developer for Apple, my information is at risk anything I receive I receive as fraudulent I’ve been reporting on this 4 1/2 years to death ears, my IMEI number and telephone number have changed with AT&T several times, leaving me all my information at risk I have seen up to 11 different devices in my Health area of my iPhone most of them claiming to be emergency contacts
They asked for my ss number I gave them it
Hi I’m just wondering how much is