Scammers impersonating the government—including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)— is nothing new. But here’s a twist: scammers are now calling themselves FTC “agents” and supplying fake badge numbers and ID cards to try to convince you they are who they say they are. (They’re not who they say they are. The FTC doesn’t have “agents.”) So how do you avoid scams like this?
These scams often start with someone reaching out about a supposed urgent problem. Maybe it’s a computer pop-up saying you have a virus and to call tech support. Or a caller claims to be from Amazon or your bank, and insists there’s something wrong with your account. They might say your identity has been stolen or that your money is in danger.
What happens next? They transfer you to a (fake) “FTC agent” to supposedly help resolve the issue. That person may share “proof” they’re from the FTC, like a picture of a (fake) ID with a (fake) badge number. Their goal? To convince you to transfer money out of your account and give it to them.
Steer clear of these FTC impersonators. First, never transfer or send money to anyone, no matter who they say they are, in response to an unexpected call or message—even if they claim you’re just moving your money to “protect it.” In fact, nobody from the FTC will ever reach out to ask you to move money or connect you to someone who says to move money. That’s a scam.
Next, if you’re worried there’s a problem with your account or identity, stop and check it out. Call your real bank, broker, or investment advisor. Use the number you find on your statement—never the number the caller gives you, which will take you to the scammer.
And if you get a call or message like this, tell your bank or investment fund right away—especially if you moved money or shared a verification code. Then notify the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Fake Law Enforcement
Have you gotten a call that looks like it’s from your local police department? Scammers are faking caller ID to impersonate local law enforcement, hoping to get you to pay. Know how this scam works so you can avoid it.
The call comes from someone claiming they’re a sheriff or deputy at your local police department. They say they’ve confiscated a package with your name on it. It’s filled with money, illegal drugs, or weapons—and you’ll be arrested unless you pay a fine. To avoid being arrested, they might tell you to send cash, deposit money at a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards and give them the numbers, or send money over a payment app like Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.
Even if the caller uses the name of a real officer, has a real number show up on caller ID, or has information about you (like your address), that’s not a real officer calling. It’s a scammer trying to steal your money. Here’s what to know:
• Real law enforcement officers won’t call to say you’re going to be arrested (or threaten to arrest you if you hang up).
• Real law enforcement officers won’t call to insist that you pay fines by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a wire transfer service—and never as a way to buy your way out of a “crime.”
If you get a call like this, hang up. Don’t call the number back. If you want to check it out, contact your local police department, but use a website or phone number you know is real. Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Tech Support Scams
You’re online and get a message or pop-up alerting you to a problem with your computer. The message might even say or suggest it’s from Microsoft, Apple, or Geek Squad. Should you click immediately to see what it’s about? No, and here’s why.
That urgent pop-up message saying there’s something wrong with your computer could be a way to get you into a tech support trap. Scammers impersonate well-known companies to get you to trust them and call. What happens next? If you click on the link or call a phone number in a pop-up warning, they might say your device is infected (which is a lie). Then they’ll try to sell you a “solution” (which is a scam) and ask you to pay for a bogus tech support service.
Here’s one way to be sure you spot a scam: security pop-up warnings from real tech companies will never ask you to call a phone number. If you’re worried about missing a real security threat, slow down instead of clicking or calling. To find out whether there’s a problem with your computer, first update your computer’s security software and run a scan. If you need help fixing a problem, go to a company you know and trust. Some stores that sell computer equipment also offer technical support in person. And many companies offer tech support online—but be sure to get in touch with them using contact information listed on their official company website.
Careful of Online Searches
Online search results can offer significant benefits to consumers, helping people find what they’re looking for. But online search results are also used by scammers to steer you in the wrong direction.
In fact, scammers sometimes use paid search results to trick you. They might use another company’s name, include the name of a government service, or use misleading tag lines to make you think you’re dealing with someone else. They might even put their number alongside a trusted company’s name or link to a website that looks official to steer you away from the business or government agency you were looking for. Their goal is to get your money or your personal or financial information to steal your identity.
Here’s how to avoid a search result scam:
• Know that the first search results you see might be paid ads. They show up based on what you search and may or may not be what you’re looking for.
• Don’t assume the phone number that comes up in search is legit. You could be calling a scammer or dishonest business who doesn’t want you to know you’re in the wrong place. To make sure you’re dealing with who you think you are, scroll to the unpaid search results to make sure you have the right website or contact info for a business or government agency.
• Type a company’s website address directly into your browser if you know it. If you’re paying a bill, type in the address or call the number from your bill directly.
Work-From-Home Job Scams
Scammers know people want to make money working from home. So, they send emails, texts, or advertise jobs claiming you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time. What do they really want? Your money or personal information.
Scammers might try to recruit you by saying you can be your own boss or set your own schedule. But instead of making money, you might end up paying for starter kits, so-called training, or certifications that are useless.
Before accepting a job offer:
• Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person.
• Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also gives you time to think about the offer.
• Don’t pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send money or to buy gift cards with it. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the money.
Discount Offer Scams
Have you gotten a robocall about a discount on phone, TV, or internet services? Scammers pretend to be businesses and make robocalls about “discounted services” if you pay with a gift card. It’s a scam. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.
You get an unexpected robocall from someone who says they’re with a company like AT&T, Spectrum, or Verizon. They say there’s a 40 to 50 percent discount available if you act now. They might say the discount is for future bills, service bundles, or even products like a new Apple Watch—but then they say you have to buy a gift card and pay them up front by giving them the gift card numbers to secure the offer.
That’s a scam. They might also ask you to confirm your account information to apply the discount, but if you do, they could use that info to hack into your account.
To avoid a scam like this:
• Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast. They don’t want you to have time to think about what they’re saying. Take your time to be sure you understand the offer.
• Check it out. To confirm the offer is real, reach out to the company that’s supposedly offering the promotion. But use a phone number or website you know is right—not the number in the robocall message.
• Know how scammers tell you to pay. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. Only scammers will tell you to pay with gift cards.
Avoid Medicare Scams:
Medicare will NOT call you…
Not with offers of free gifts.
Not about a new card.
Not because benefits expire.
Hang up the phone!
Special VA Alert
Whether you served for four, ten, or 20 years, veterans’ pension and disability benefits might be an essential part of your life after the military. That’s why scammers call, email, or message to “help” you apply for them. But what they’re really after is your money. These “advisors” make promises they can’t (and won’t) keep, and charge filing fees for services that are always free through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
An email saying you’re missing out on some of your benefits and an offer to help you apply for them (for a fee, of course) is a scam. Ignore that email.
Some scammers charge fees for fake services like speeding up the claims process or guaranteeing you a 100 percent disability rating, but only the VA can determine eligibility and award benefits and services. There’s no speeding up the process and there are no guarantees.
If someone pressures you to sign over a portion of your VA benefits as payment for their help applying, say no. That’s a scam. VA accredited attorneys, claims agents, and Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives will help you apply for free.
Skip the scams and go straight to the source—the VA. Here’s what to do:
• Apply directly to VA (https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/Applying.asp). They’ll help you gather and develop evidence to support your initial claim for VA benefits—for free.
• Need help? Only work with a VA accredited representative. Use the VA Accreditation Search tool (https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep/) to confirm that the person helping you is approved by the VA.
• Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast. Slow down. Read all papers and contracts before signing anything.
SPCA Scams
Are you the parent of a fur baby? Then you know how tough it is when your cat, dog, or other adorable pet is sick, in pain, or injured. You’d do anything for them. Scammers are using that feeling to steal your hard-earned money.
Here’s how the scam works. You get a call or text from someone who says they’re a staff member at the local SPCA or another animal shelter. They tell you that your pet was hit by a car and you need to pay $500 right away to save them. Conveniently, they tell you exactly how to pay.
If you’re at home with your pet, you’ll know right away that it’s a scam. If you aren’t at home and you’re worried, here are a couple of steps to help stop the scammers in their tracks.
• Call the shelter yourself. Look up the phone number of the shelter the person says they’re calling from. Call them yourself to see if Boots, Rascal, or Thor is there.
• Listen to how they tell you to pay. Scammers will insist you can only pay with cash, a gift card, a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Those are ways that get scammers the money quickly…and make it hard (or impossible) for you to get your money back.
Your reports make a difference. If you see a fraud or scam, the FTC wants to hear about it: go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Article information provided by the Bureau of Consumer Protection. In addition to reporting fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, if you believe you’ve received a fraudulent call, notify the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection immediately at 914.995.2155.
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23 Aug 2025
0 Commentsgov’t agent scams and more
Scammers impersonating the government—including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)— is nothing new. But here’s a twist: scammers are now calling themselves FTC “agents” and supplying fake badge numbers and ID cards to try to convince you they are who they say they are. (They’re not who they say they are. The FTC doesn’t have “agents.”) So how do you avoid scams like this?
These scams often start with someone reaching out about a supposed urgent problem. Maybe it’s a computer pop-up saying you have a virus and to call tech support. Or a caller claims to be from Amazon or your bank, and insists there’s something wrong with your account. They might say your identity has been stolen or that your money is in danger.
What happens next? They transfer you to a (fake) “FTC agent” to supposedly help resolve the issue. That person may share “proof” they’re from the FTC, like a picture of a (fake) ID with a (fake) badge number. Their goal? To convince you to transfer money out of your account and give it to them.
Steer clear of these FTC impersonators. First, never transfer or send money to anyone, no matter who they say they are, in response to an unexpected call or message—even if they claim you’re just moving your money to “protect it.” In fact, nobody from the FTC will ever reach out to ask you to move money or connect you to someone who says to move money. That’s a scam.
Next, if you’re worried there’s a problem with your account or identity, stop and check it out. Call your real bank, broker, or investment advisor. Use the number you find on your statement—never the number the caller gives you, which will take you to the scammer.
And if you get a call or message like this, tell your bank or investment fund right away—especially if you moved money or shared a verification code. Then notify the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Fake Law Enforcement
Have you gotten a call that looks like it’s from your local police department? Scammers are faking caller ID to impersonate local law enforcement, hoping to get you to pay. Know how this scam works so you can avoid it.
The call comes from someone claiming they’re a sheriff or deputy at your local police department. They say they’ve confiscated a package with your name on it. It’s filled with money, illegal drugs, or weapons—and you’ll be arrested unless you pay a fine. To avoid being arrested, they might tell you to send cash, deposit money at a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards and give them the numbers, or send money over a payment app like Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.
Even if the caller uses the name of a real officer, has a real number show up on caller ID, or has information about you (like your address), that’s not a real officer calling. It’s a scammer trying to steal your money. Here’s what to know:
• Real law enforcement officers won’t call to say you’re going to be arrested (or threaten to arrest you if you hang up).
• Real law enforcement officers won’t call to insist that you pay fines by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a wire transfer service—and never as a way to buy your way out of a “crime.”
If you get a call like this, hang up. Don’t call the number back. If you want to check it out, contact your local police department, but use a website or phone number you know is real. Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Tech Support Scams
You’re online and get a message or pop-up alerting you to a problem with your computer. The message might even say or suggest it’s from Microsoft, Apple, or Geek Squad. Should you click immediately to see what it’s about? No, and here’s why.
That urgent pop-up message saying there’s something wrong with your computer could be a way to get you into a tech support trap. Scammers impersonate well-known companies to get you to trust them and call. What happens next? If you click on the link or call a phone number in a pop-up warning, they might say your device is infected (which is a lie). Then they’ll try to sell you a “solution” (which is a scam) and ask you to pay for a bogus tech support service.
Here’s one way to be sure you spot a scam: security pop-up warnings from real tech companies will never ask you to call a phone number. If you’re worried about missing a real security threat, slow down instead of clicking or calling. To find out whether there’s a problem with your computer, first update your computer’s security software and run a scan. If you need help fixing a problem, go to a company you know and trust. Some stores that sell computer equipment also offer technical support in person. And many companies offer tech support online—but be sure to get in touch with them using contact information listed on their official company website.
Careful of Online Searches
Online search results can offer significant benefits to consumers, helping people find what they’re looking for. But online search results are also used by scammers to steer you in the wrong direction.
In fact, scammers sometimes use paid search results to trick you. They might use another company’s name, include the name of a government service, or use misleading tag lines to make you think you’re dealing with someone else. They might even put their number alongside a trusted company’s name or link to a website that looks official to steer you away from the business or government agency you were looking for. Their goal is to get your money or your personal or financial information to steal your identity.
Here’s how to avoid a search result scam:
• Know that the first search results you see might be paid ads. They show up based on what you search and may or may not be what you’re looking for.
• Don’t assume the phone number that comes up in search is legit. You could be calling a scammer or dishonest business who doesn’t want you to know you’re in the wrong place. To make sure you’re dealing with who you think you are, scroll to the unpaid search results to make sure you have the right website or contact info for a business or government agency.
• Type a company’s website address directly into your browser if you know it. If you’re paying a bill, type in the address or call the number from your bill directly.
Work-From-Home Job Scams
Scammers know people want to make money working from home. So, they send emails, texts, or advertise jobs claiming you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time. What do they really want? Your money or personal information.
Scammers might try to recruit you by saying you can be your own boss or set your own schedule. But instead of making money, you might end up paying for starter kits, so-called training, or certifications that are useless.
Before accepting a job offer:
• Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person.
• Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also gives you time to think about the offer.
• Don’t pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send money or to buy gift cards with it. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the money.
Discount Offer Scams
Have you gotten a robocall about a discount on phone, TV, or internet services? Scammers pretend to be businesses and make robocalls about “discounted services” if you pay with a gift card. It’s a scam. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.
You get an unexpected robocall from someone who says they’re with a company like AT&T, Spectrum, or Verizon. They say there’s a 40 to 50 percent discount available if you act now. They might say the discount is for future bills, service bundles, or even products like a new Apple Watch—but then they say you have to buy a gift card and pay them up front by giving them the gift card numbers to secure the offer.
That’s a scam. They might also ask you to confirm your account information to apply the discount, but if you do, they could use that info to hack into your account.
To avoid a scam like this:
• Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast. They don’t want you to have time to think about what they’re saying. Take your time to be sure you understand the offer.
• Check it out. To confirm the offer is real, reach out to the company that’s supposedly offering the promotion. But use a phone number or website you know is right—not the number in the robocall message.
• Know how scammers tell you to pay. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. Only scammers will tell you to pay with gift cards.
Avoid Medicare Scams:
Medicare will NOT call you…
Not with offers of free gifts.
Not about a new card.
Not because benefits expire.
Hang up the phone!
Special VA Alert
Whether you served for four, ten, or 20 years, veterans’ pension and disability benefits might be an essential part of your life after the military. That’s why scammers call, email, or message to “help” you apply for them. But what they’re really after is your money. These “advisors” make promises they can’t (and won’t) keep, and charge filing fees for services that are always free through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
An email saying you’re missing out on some of your benefits and an offer to help you apply for them (for a fee, of course) is a scam. Ignore that email.
Some scammers charge fees for fake services like speeding up the claims process or guaranteeing you a 100 percent disability rating, but only the VA can determine eligibility and award benefits and services. There’s no speeding up the process and there are no guarantees.
If someone pressures you to sign over a portion of your VA benefits as payment for their help applying, say no. That’s a scam. VA accredited attorneys, claims agents, and Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives will help you apply for free.
Skip the scams and go straight to the source—the VA. Here’s what to do:
• Apply directly to VA (https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/Applying.asp). They’ll help you gather and develop evidence to support your initial claim for VA benefits—for free.
• Need help? Only work with a VA accredited representative. Use the VA Accreditation Search tool (https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep/) to confirm that the person helping you is approved by the VA.
• Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast. Slow down. Read all papers and contracts before signing anything.
SPCA Scams
Are you the parent of a fur baby? Then you know how tough it is when your cat, dog, or other adorable pet is sick, in pain, or injured. You’d do anything for them. Scammers are using that feeling to steal your hard-earned money.
Here’s how the scam works. You get a call or text from someone who says they’re a staff member at the local SPCA or another animal shelter. They tell you that your pet was hit by a car and you need to pay $500 right away to save them. Conveniently, they tell you exactly how to pay.
If you’re at home with your pet, you’ll know right away that it’s a scam. If you aren’t at home and you’re worried, here are a couple of steps to help stop the scammers in their tracks.
• Call the shelter yourself. Look up the phone number of the shelter the person says they’re calling from. Call them yourself to see if Boots, Rascal, or Thor is there.
• Listen to how they tell you to pay. Scammers will insist you can only pay with cash, a gift card, a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Those are ways that get scammers the money quickly…and make it hard (or impossible) for you to get your money back.
Your reports make a difference. If you see a fraud or scam, the FTC wants to hear about it: go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Article information provided by the Bureau of Consumer Protection. In addition to reporting fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, if you believe you’ve received a fraudulent call, notify the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection immediately at 914.995.2155.