Just when you thought phone scams couldn’t get any more complicated, there’s another one you should pay attention to.
And this one is even more sophisticated because the government agency you should report these types of scams to… the FTC – is being impersonated.
woman on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
One of the reasons why this impersonation has been increasing is the progression of artificial intelligence.
AI voice-over tools and deep-fake technology make it even easier for copycats to commit crimes. But you can protect yourself. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the FTC phishing scam?
As a phishing scam, the FTC phishing scam involves scammers posing as Federal Trade Commission employees calling your number and trying to convince you to wire them money. These scammers have become very smart when it comes to attacking their victims.
First, they can fake an FTC phone number so that when your phone rings and you see your caller ID, it says FTC and/or a title related to a government agency.
Next, The scammer may pose as a real FTC employee. So when you ask for their name to check whether it’s a scam or not (which you should always do!), your quick internet search will reveal a real FTC employee. When checking whether it is a real scam or not, some victims may not think twice after checking it.
Finally, They will tell you that you owe them money. While it’s not clear exactly what they’re saying (perhaps they’re telling you that you owe a bill, a debt, or a fine), some scammers even tell you to send money in other quirky ways, like going to Bitcoin ATMs or withdraw cash to pay them in person.
These scams have been successful and this year, the average loss per call has increased to $7,000.
SCAMMERS ARE USING FAKE NEWS AND MALICIOUS LINKS TO LOOK INTO AN EMOTIONAL PHISHING TRAP ON FACEBOOK
man on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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What the FTC and FBI are doing about it
Now, the FTC is taking notice of these scams, warning and educating the public, and cracking down on perpetrators.
To start, the FTC said in a Press release that it “will never send consumers to a Bitcoin ATM, tell them to go buy gold bars, or require them to withdraw cash and take it to someone in person.” The agency added that it “will never contact consumers to demand money, threaten arrest or deportation, or promise a prize.”
Secondly, due to the public outcry against AI and the increasing number of complaints to the FBI, the FTC is working with the government use tools to “detect, deter and catch these impersonators” while proposing strict legislation that would ban government fraud and phishing, “thus allowing the FTC to directly bring federal court cases aimed at forcing fraudsters to give back the money they earned from the government.” or corporate phishing scams.
How to stay safe
1. Stay updated: The first step to protecting yourself from government phishing fraud is to simply educate yourself about it. Stay up to date on these and other scams by reading the news and subscribing to sites like Cyberguy. Again, the FTC advises that they will never call you to ask you to transfer money in any way, so if you receive a call from them or another government agency requesting this, it is a scam.
But due to the 22% increase in reported losses from online crimes compared to 2022, according to the FBI Internet Crime Report 2023They propose other strategies to stay safe from scams by following the tips we list below:
2. Keep calm: If you think a scammer is calling you, it is important to stay calm and not get excited. It’s very easy to get upset when you’re in the middle of this situation. If this happens, you can always tell them that you will come back to them and hang up the phone. If they become aggressive and try to exploit you, tell them you will report them and hang up.
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3. Cautionary note: Do not contact unknown phone numbers that appear in pop-ups, text messages or emails.
4. Safety reminder: Do not download software at the request of unknown people contacting you.
5. Safety precaution: Do not allow unknown people to access your computer.
6. Don’t click on that link: Don’t click on unsolicited pop-ups on your computer, links sent via text messages, or email links and attachments.
7. Have good antivirus software: As fraudsters weaponize artificial intelligence and spoofing technologies, strong antivirus software becomes your first line of defense. The best way to protect yourself from clicking on malicious links that install malware that can access your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you to any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
woman on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Scammers will continue to find new ways to take advantage of their victims, and AI has made it easier for them to do so. One of the main concerns about AI is that it will progress faster than agencies like the FTC and FBI can keep up. Therefore, it is important to take measures to protect yourself and avoid being a victim.
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