The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions the public about scammers posing as its staff to defraud Americans, with reports indicating a rise in such deceptive activities. These scams involve perpetrators coercing victims through various channels like phone calls, emails, or texts, resulting in financial losses averaging $7,000 per incident. Last year, the FBI received over 14,000 complaints about government impersonation schemes, predominantly affecting older adults and resulting in losses surpassing $394 million.
To combat this trend, the FTC has issued guidelines urging consumers to remain vigilant and report any instances of FTC impersonation scams through dedicated online platforms. The agency emphasizes that it never instructs individuals to transfer money to safeguard it, use Bitcoin ATMs, or engage in other suspicious financial transactions. Additionally, the FTC is implementing the Government and Business Impersonation Rule to enhance its capabilities in tackling such scams and assisting affected individuals.
The FBI has also shared precautionary measures to mitigate the risk of falling victim to similar frauds, advising against clicking on unsolicited pop-ups or links, downloading software from unknown sources, and providing access to personal devices to unfamiliar individuals. Despite efforts to curb cybercrime, the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report reveals a 22% increase in reported losses, amounting to a record $12.5 billion. Notably, older adults remain particularly susceptible to online scams, underscoring the urgency of public awareness and proactive cybersecurity measures.
