The Federal Trade Commission recently announced that scammers are impersonating FTC employees -- including FTC Inspector General Andrew Katsaros -- to purloin cash.
The body of a recent press release follows.
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Scammers are using the names of FTC employees, including the FTC’s Inspector General, to trick people into sending money or giving up their personal information. Here’s what you need to know.
The FTC won’t threaten you or demand a payment. If you get a letter with the name of an FTC Commissioner or staff member that threatens some dire consequence if you don’t pay immediately, it’s a scam. Don’t pay. The same goes for threatening callers that claim to be from the FTC.
The FTC doesn’t give out prizes. If someone contacts you claiming to be from the FTC and says you need to pay to get your prize, it’s a scam.
FTC employees won’t identify themselves with a badge number. If someone claiming to work for the FTC gives you a badge number, it’s a scam. Especially if they then ask you for money.
Don’t respond to someone who says they’re from the FTC and demands money, threatens you, or asks for personal or financial information. Report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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Hope the FTC Inspector General is inspecting that!
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FTC PRESS RELEASE