Scam Alert: I’m Calling from the FTC

The skeptic in me is wary of any calls from the government, especially if “they’re here to help.”   However, this particular scam preys on those just hoping to catch a break in this economy.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an alert about telephone scam artists posing as FTC employees and telling you you’ve won $250,000.

Someone who claims to work for the Federal Trade Commission calls to inform you that you have won a lottery or sweepstakes. To receive the prize, all you have to do is pay the taxes and insurance. The caller asks you to wire money or send a check for an amount between $1,000 and $10,000. What should you do? Don’t send money or account information, and immediately report the incident to the real Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC is the nation’s consumer protection agency. It investigates fraud and provides free information, but it never collects money directly from consumers. FTC staffers don’t have any involvement with this sweepstakes scam, but they do want you to avoid it.

The caller might suggest that the FTC is supervising the giveaway. He or she might even use the name of a real FTC employee. Your Caller ID might display the Federal Trade Commission’s name or a Washington, DC area code. Don’t be surprised if you receive repeated calls and follow-up faxes. Keep reading.

Hmm.  Now what are the odds the U.S. Department of Education calls me up to say there is a banking error in my favor and my student loan debt has been erased?

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