Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the FTC’s Inspector General Andrew Katsaros, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a government office or business you know, like the Social Security Administration, Medicare, a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID so the call may appear legitimate.
Scammers say there's a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer.
Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information.
Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.
They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted. They also might tell you to keep the conversation a secret from your friends and family.
Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
They often insist that you can only pay by using cryptocurrency, wiring money through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, using a payment app, or putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card.
Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you to deposit it and send them money.
Reporting Scams
If you have been scammed or think you may have been contacted by a scammer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.