That's not the FBI on the phone, but here's how scammers will scare you
There are plenty of scams in the wild that you need to know about. This time of year, holiday scammers are out in full force. Tap or click here for three of the most prominent holiday scams and ways to avoid them.
Those aren’t the only devious schemes to worry about. There’s a new ruse making the rounds where thieves pretend to be calling from the FBI. The thought of getting a call from an FBI agent is frightening enough, but this one adds scare tactics to rip you off.
Read on to find out how this scam works and a few ways to outsmart them.
Here’s the backstory
You already know how annoying unsolicited phone calls can be. But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that some calls have gone from annoying to dangerous.
What’s happening now is scam callers are pretending to be FBI agents. If you get one of these calls, the fake agent will spin a frightening tale hoping to catch you off guard and steal your money.
One of the most popular schemes to watch for is the fake FBI agent calling to tell you that you owe a hefty fee to resolve a judgment that’s been entered against you.
The most important thing to remember is that no government agency will call out of the blue demanding money. Even if you owe a fee, you’ll first receive correspondence through snail mail.
Another method to catch victims is to claim that they failed to report for jury duty and must pay a fine. Another trick is alleging that the victim’s identity is implicated in a serious crime and law enforcement officials want to verify your details. As you can see, the ruse can take many turns.
Keep reading for tips on avoiding these types of scams.
How to outsmart imposter scams
The FTC wants everyone to know that federal agencies do not call or email individuals threatening arrest or demanding money. If you ever get such a call, it’s a scammer trying to scare you.
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