The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning to the public regarding a concerning trend of scammers impersonating FTC staff to deceive and defraud consumers. The warning emphasizes that these fraudulent individuals are using the actual names of FTC employees to perpetrate their schemes. Tactics employed by these impostors include advising victims to transfer funds, visit Bitcoin ATMs, or buy gold bars, all under the guise of safeguarding their money. The FTC unequivocally asserts that it would never instruct consumers to take such actions or demand cash from them, nor would it threaten arrest, deportation, or promise prizes.
It strongly cautions individuals against complying with such demands or threats as they are clear indicators of fraudulent activity. According to the FTC, the median loss to impersonators has surged from $3,000 in 2019 to $7,000 in 2024, reflecting the increasing severity of these scams. Furthermore, the FTC highlights that individuals over 60 years old are the most commonly targeted demographic, amplifying the need for public vigilance and awareness to counteract these fraudulent endeavors. In response to this, the FTC has disseminated informative blog posts detailing techniques to recognize and evade such business and government imposter scams, aiming to empower the public to protect themselves and their finances effectively.
