Security News > 2024 > March > FTC warns scammers are impersonating its employees to steal money
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warned today that scammers are impersonating its employees to steal thousands of dollars from Americans.
FTC says its staff has received numerous reports from consumers who have fallen victim to scams in which fraudsters exploited the identities of agency personnel to coerce them into transferring or wiring money.
In response, the agency has released guidelines aimed at helping identify such fraudulent activities, urging U.S. consumers to report any FTC impersonation scams via ReportFraud.
"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."
Americans lost record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, FTC warns.