Who’s who in scams: a spring roundup
Scammers impersonate well-known companies and government agencies to trick people into sending money. The FTC reports that impersonation scams caused over $660 million in losses in 2023.
How it works
Scammers contact you by email, phone call, or social media ad pretending to be a trusted company or agency. They create urgency and tell you to pay immediately by gift card, cryptocurrency, bank transfer, or payment app. For example, fake Geek Squad emails claim a computer service will renew for hundreds of dollars, or fake Microsoft pop-ups warn of security threats and ask you to call a number. Fake sweepstakes calls demand fees before you can claim your winnings.
Red flags to watch for
- Urgent demand to pay immediately or you will miss out
- They tell you to pay only by gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment app
- Email or pop-up asks you to click a link or call a number you did not initiate
- Caller ID or sender name matches a real company but the request seems odd
- They ask you to keep the payment secret from your bank or family
- Story involves winning something you never entered or a service you never signed up for
What to do
Do not click links in unexpected messages, do not call numbers from pop-ups or emails, and do not send money by gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment app. Instead, hang up or delete the message, then contact the company or agency directly using a phone number or website you look up yourself. Talk to someone you trust before you pay anything. If you already sent money, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Not sure about a message like this?
Show Scam Sentinel the text, email, link, or call. It tells you in plain language what looks wrong or right, why, and the one thing to do next. A second opinion before you tap, pay, or pick up.
Source: FTC. Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.