Scammers are pretending to be FTC workers in order to steal money

Date:
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:30:08 +0000

Description:
The FTC will never tell you to go to a Bitcoin ATM, it says. And it won't offer a prize.

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Be careful when getting phone calls, emails, or text messages, from people claiming to work for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - its most
likely a scam.

This warning was issued by the FTC itself earlier this week, warning
Americans of an ongoing fraud campaign that aims to steal their hard-earned money, BleepingComputer reports.

In the warning, the FTC said it received countless reports from people who fell victim to these scams. Stealing people's gold bars

"The FTC will never tell consumers to move their money to 'protect' it. The FTC will never send consumers to a Bitcoin ATM, tell them to go buy gold
bars, or demand they withdraw cash and take it to someone in person. It will also never contact consumers to demand money, threaten to arrest or deport them, or promise a prize," the agency said.

"In light of surging complaints around impersonation fraud, the FTC recently announced that it has finalized the Government and Business Impersonation Rule, which gives the agency stronger tools to fight scammers and return
money to consumers harmed by impersonators."

Since the FTC mentioned buying gold bars, or taking cash to someone in
person, this warning is most likely related to the one the FBI sent out in late January this year. Back then, the law enforcement agency warned of fake tech support agents claiming to work for the US government and telling their victims, mostly the elderly, that their accounts were being targeted.

To secure their funds, they were advised to buy gold bars, after which the fraudsters would send couriers to pick them up and keep them safe.

The median financial loss in this scheme, BleepingComputer further reported, surged during the last five years, from $3,000 in 2019 to $7,000 in 2024. Furthermore, the FBI received more than 14,000 reports of people
impersonating the government just last year. The majority of the victims were of an older age. More from TechRadar Pro Scam for gold the FBI is warning tech support criminals are now sending couriers to your house in brazen attempt Here's a list of the best firewalls around today These are the best endpoint security tools right now



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/scammers-are-pretending-to-be-ftc-worke rs-in-order-to-steal-money


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