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Here’s what to know to protect yourself against government imposters like these.
- The FTC will never send a letter like this, and we’ll never threaten you.
- The FTC does write back to people who write to us, and we sometimes send letters about a refund from a case – but then, we’ll never ask you to pay anything or give personal info to collect your funds. (Find more about FTC refunds at ftc.gov/redress.)
- No government agency will ever demand that you pay by gift card, wiring money, or bitcoin. Anyone who does that is a scammer. Full stop.
- Find out more about imposter scams of all sorts at ftc.gov/imposters.
- 1.877.382.4357. You can go to http://ftc.gov/imposters to file a report.
I had an email from my apartment complex that someone is knocking on doors at apartments around El Paso claiming they are going to be new management and asking for entry to inspect the apartment. Most apartment complexes do not know who these individuals are and will notify you of an apartment inspection in advance. Everyone in the apartment complex should know their staff members, it they are not known to you, they should be identified with their employee badge. If anyone else asks to see your apartment, please deny entry and notify the your office and the police immediately. This also applies if someone says that they are from your mortgage company.
Federal Trade Commission: The FTC have been getting reports about a scam that starts out with a job recruiter reaching out to ask for your resume. Sounds normal—right? Well, that’s where normal ends. After you send that over, you’re told that the format is “incompatible.” The next thin you know you’re asked to send your resume to a website to “reformat” it–for a fee. In other words, they’re asking you to pay for a job. To avoid the job scams. Do an online search. Look up the name of the company or the person who’ hiring you, plus the words, “scam,” reviver” or “complaint”. You might find they have scanned other people. Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? You don’t want to be rushed into a decision. Don’t pay for the promise of a job. Legitimate employers, including the federal government will NEVER ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a Scammer. Spot a job scam? Tell the FTC at reportFraud.fte.gov found at the federal trade commission web site.
Federal Trade Commission (cryptocurrency Investment Scams) Most of the Losses Consumers Reported were to Bogus Cryptocurrency Investment Scams Consumers reported losing over $1 billion to fraud involving cryptocurrencies from January 2021 through March 2022, according to a new analysis from the Federal Trade Commission. Fraud reports suggest cryptocurrency is quickly becoming the payment of choice for many scammers, with about one out of every four dollars reported lost to fraud paid in cryptocurrency. The FTC’s latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight finds that most of the cryptocurrency losses consumers reported involved bogus cryptocurrency investment opportunities, which totaled $575 million in reported losses since January 2021. These scams often falsely promise potential investors that they can earn huge returns by investing in their cryptocurrency schemes, but people report losing all the money they “invest.” After cryptocurrency investment schemes, the next largest losses reported by consumers were on: Romance Scams: These often involve a love interest who tries to entice someone into investing in what turns out to be a cryptocurrency scam. Business and Government Impersonation Scams: Reports show these scammers often target consumers by claiming their money is at risk because of fraud or a government investigation and the only way to protect their cash is by converting it to cryptocurrency. Reports suggest that cryptocurrency-related scams often begin on social media. Nearly half of consumers who reported a cryptocurrency related scam since 2021 said it started with an ad, post or message on a social media platform. People ages 20 to 49 were more than three times as likely as older age groups to have reported losing money to a cryptocurrency scam. Older age groups, however, reported losing more money when they did report a cryptocurrency-related scam. Some of the red flags consumers should watch out for include: anyone who claims they can guarantee profits or big returns by investing in cryptocurrency; people who require you to buy or pay in cryptocurrency; and a love interest who wants to show you how to invest in cryptocurrency or to send them cryptocurrency. The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts. Media Contact Juliana Gruenwald Henderson Office of Public Affairs 202-326-2924 Staff Contact Emma Fletcher Bureau of Consumer Protection 202-326-2899