Consumer Alert
How scammers make you pay
Here’s one of the top questions we get from people: Is this a scam? Whatever the “this” looks like, here’s our best answer to that question: Did someone say you can only pay by wiring money, putting money on a gift card, or loading money on a cash reload card? If they did, then yes: that is a scam.
Here’s a video that has, in a little more than a minute, some of the scam scenarios we see – and what you should do about them.
Whether someone tells you to pay to claim a prize, help someone out of trouble, or deal with tax issues from the (so-called) IRS: nobody legitimate is ever going to say you have to pay by wiring them money, getting iTunes cards, or putting money on a MoneyPak, Vanilla Reload, or Reloadit card.
So: watch the video. And if anyone ever insists you pay in one of those ways, tell the FTC. Because that will be a scam we want to know about.
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In reply to Yes! This is definitely a by FTC Staff
These romance scammers are redonkulous....I mess with them back and waste their time. No sorry nobody falls in love with you in a week I don't care h o w lonely you are wake up if it is too good to be true it is. I have some idiot trying it right now. Here is his deal dad in UK died 6 years ago....divorced mom dying of cancer....wife left him with nothing after cheating on him with best friend. Lets see he is 91 % deaf because he had the exhaust of a jet blow up in his face killing 3 of his men......oh my he even sent me his drivers license not much will be done if reported they just move on to the next one
In reply to I got a call from NYC Police by Won't happen again
Thank you for sharing your story. You can also report that to the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.
In reply to I have been receiving calls by Tired of it
You have rights when you deal with legitimate debt collectors. Read this FTC article about your debt collection rights.
Within 5 days after they first contact you, every debt collector must send you a written “validation notice” that says how much money you owe, the name of the creditor you owe money to, and what you can do if you don’t think you owe the money.
Some callers are fake debt collectors. They have some of your personal information. They try to scare people into sending money, even though they don't really owe a debt. Read this FTC article about Fake Debt Collectors.
If you think a debt collector might be a fake, ask him for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell him you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice."
My handyman scammed me. He always wanted the money up front. He would find little things around the house to fix. When my partner, died, I never saw him again. He never answers his phone. I know where his wife works and she can be very nasty. In the beginning she was real nice and said her husband likes senior citizens. He said he had a brain tumor and a metal plate in his head. He worked fast and did fairly good work, but always suggesting different things to do to the house. He would want money up front and he owes me about $750. His wife said he is in Virginia taking care of his grandfather. He told me that he had no grandparents and was going to call me grandmother. At Christmas he wanted $300. for Christmas gifts and I post dated the check until January 8, 2018. He cashed it immediately and it messed up my account and I got 5 NSF charges. One time later he wanted $50 to get his medicine. I have not seen or talked to him since before Christmas. I am afraid to call the authorities since he has told me he as several guns, dobermn pincher dogs, snakes, and other common creepy animals. I am afraid if I tell someone, he will retaliate. He is about 37 and I am in my middle 70s. My partner died in January and so he thinks he can get away with the theft. Women alone are targets for scammers. His wife says she has his phone. He has never called me or communicated with me. I went to his wife's work and told her if he would come and put the floor down in my bedroom we will call it even. No response. I need help, it is driving me crazy and my partner of 11 years is gone. Can you help me?
In reply to My handyman scammed me. He by Connie D
In reply to I was contacted by someone by Sandy
That is a scam.
The FTC and BBB don't work with any company that calls people and demands iTunes cards. Only scammers call people and demand iTunes cards. The story about your Social Security card is a lie. You don't have to talk to these people or send money or iTunes cards.
hello i recently got a email that there was a lawsuit being processed if i didn't take care of a past loan they emailed me and have been texting me and i was so frightened they said if i wanted to take care of this out of court i had to make the first payment on that coming friday that was on april 10th let me advise you the guy on behalf of mark beck (Richard Davis) stayed on the phone with me until i left the wal-mart up until i was walking out and he even asked me if i had walked out and was in my car at the Wal-mart, i wired the money to Ohio Columbus to a Nia Carter and they sent me a "receipt" that looked so fake with the information of the Federal trade commission in Washington DC
In reply to hello i recently got a email by lopezisel
That is a scam.
The FTC does not send email that threatens people about lawsuits, or tell people to wire money. The people who called you were not from the FTC. Please call the real FTC at 1-877-382-4357 and report this, so we have a record of this scam. Thank you.
In reply to What if the situation is like by Anna
If you give your name and account number, someone can take money from your account. They might say they will deposit money, but once they get access to your account, they can take money instead. Contact your bank and ask how to protect your money.