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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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anne
August 14, 2023
or when the app takes out money and puts it into a crpto account
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James Young
August 14, 2023
how do an individual know what messages are for the one who gets the email from government officials, stressed out about all of this, trying to figure out what to do, I need help
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KelcP0515
August 14, 2023
In reply to how do an individual know… by James Young
Most official officers, whether bank or government are not going to ask you for any of your information. None of them are going to ask you to open an account over the phone, or walk you through sending money unless you are the one initiating the call. That website they share for scams has a lot of useful information. You can always hang up the phone, look up the phone number on the internet and call them back if you are unsure.
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Dee Dee
August 14, 2023
In reply to how do an individual know… by James Young
Don't use the payment apps, period. The banks tout them because it relieves the bank of liability. If you pay online, go directly to the creditor's trusted website in which you must log in. Your payment will debit your bank account within a few days. If fraud still results, which is unlikely, your bank must make it right. Payment apps often do not.
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Knee
August 22, 2023
In reply to Don't use the payment apps,… by Dee Dee
Absolutely right!
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Angie
August 14, 2023
In reply to how do an individual know… by James Young
James,
Typically you will only receive an email from the government AFTER they have contacted you by USPS mail. They usually correspond by mail only. I wouldn't trust an email. Hope this helps!
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Hi
August 14, 2023
In reply to how do an individual know… by James Young
Call your bank or whatever company they’re posing as. Don’t respond. Google the phone number or whatever they give you with the word scam. Most importantly, spend some time learning about fraud. Just remember, anyone contacting YOU for YOUR information is probably a fraudster. And never pay in gift cards.
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Samuel H Nunnally Jr
August 14, 2023
Fantastic and Well Needed Information.
Thanks
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Jim Fordell
August 14, 2023
Great note on the Cashapp craze! Thanks for all the positive things you do for consumers!
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Doug Jedlicka
August 14, 2023
Keeping on top of the latest scams and scammers. Is a way of life at this present time . With the FTC Consumer Alerts.
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Sue
August 14, 2023
I’m already feeling the pain from a scammer, it is a real thing. As soon as I get this straightened out I will cancel PayPal and
Venmo.
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Vanessa
August 14, 2023
My mom got a call from her "nephew" asking for emergency cash. She "worriedly" asked if he's "Jim" and he said yes. Told him wrong answer and he should be ashamed of himself; then hung up.
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Amy Rasmussen
August 16, 2023
In reply to My mom got a call from her … by Vanessa
You're awesome! Great ID trick!
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Cookie
August 17, 2023
In reply to My mom got a call from her … by Vanessa
Good for her! My dad lost about $5,000 with one of those scams, about 15 years ago. He got a call from someone pretending to be my son, who said his wife was in jail (completely believable 😀), and needed money to get her out. And after he sent the money, he ended up in the hospital with a stroke. When my son showed up, the truth came out. 😢 It wasn’t the first time, and he was a smart man. He just wanted to believe the best in people.
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Walda Ruiz
August 14, 2023
Good advice, thanks!
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Gold Rush Antiques
August 14, 2023
EFTs (electronic fund transfers) can also cause problems. Use extra caution when a service company (such as Xfinity, Dish, etc.) demands you handle your account "without paper". The only ones who benefit from EFTs are the receiving companies. Your bank transmits the amount you specify to the service companies bank. You have no guarantee that the money has been received, until you start getting reminder notices or threats to discontinue your service. Even though your bank provides you with a confirmation code, the service company can easily "lose" it. Companies that demand paperless or else (they'll charge you with a penalty fee), should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission. That's an unlawful practice.
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Peter GB
August 14, 2023
The scammers are becoming more clever each day and work 24/7 trying to steal our Money. As a former Bank executive Ive seen some of the most elaborate scams so none of us are immune and must take a common sense approach like a simple verification or call.
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April
August 14, 2023
Remember no one from the government will call you out of the blue. You usually get calls from them if you have some type of case you are working on. If you are trying to apply for social security or for welfare or need help with paying the IRS. And usually you set up an appointment time for them to call you. Otherwise you will never receive a call. They are too busy to call out of the blue. Anyone claiming to be an employee of the government and calls you because you need to fix something is a scammer. If you have an issue that they just found out about the will start a paper trail first and you should always call them first before you answer or set appointments for calls never use the number on the letter get the number yourself from their official website. Because scammers send letters too. Check and double check always never send money because the government won't ask you to send money over the phone or by mail. You will have an official account set up on their official website for making payments. But if nothing has changed regarding income it assets you will not all of a sudden incur a debt with them it doesn't work that way.
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Nygaard Charmaine
August 16, 2023
Thank you 😊
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Ann Jackson
August 21, 2023
I got scammed from someone who says they are calling from Comcast with promotion of 50% of your comcast bill for 2 years, no contract. For this promotion they have partnered with Target thus, I needed to get a Target gift card. The caller even told me what my Comcast bill was, that's why I thought it was really Comcast. I was scammed. I notified FTC, Target, my credit card company (I bought the gift card with my cc) and Comcast. I let them know it was an inside job because they knew how much my comcast bill was. I have tried for 2 WEEKS to notify Oakland PD and their phone lines STAY on busy. Once there was a recording saying their phones lines were out of order. Well, my CC company (American Express) refused to stop payment. Target refused any help. FTC responded with an email to let my know they got my complaint - and NOTHING else. Comcast told me who I should notify of the bad deed. And it stopped there. I even got 2 more calls from the scammer the next week. It's a cold cruel world. WAKE UP, people
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