Scam or NotScam No. 0012026-10-24
Is this text a scam?
SCAM
FFTC Official
Text Message · Today 9:41
FTC: Agent Badge ID 4471-B. A phone registered under your name is being used for scams overseas. Your number will be deactivated unless you cooperate. Do not discuss this case with anyone. A police officer will contact you to file a report.
The FTC Consumer Alert describes this scheme as a phone call from someone claiming to be an FTC official. The call's claims (the badge ID, the phone-registered-in-your-name story, the deactivation threat, the secrecy demand, and the handoff to a fake police officer) are adapted into a text message here so they can be shown on the screen.
3 red flags
- RED FLAG 1Phone cutoff threatThey scare you by saying your number will be shut off.
Source: “A real FTC employee will never ever threaten to disconnect your phone. That’s a scam.” link - RED FLAG 2Keep it secretA real FTC employee never tells you to keep your conversations secret.
Source: “A real FTC employee will never ever tell you to keep your conversations secret. That’s always a scam.” link - RED FLAG 3Fake badge numberThat badge ID is fake and meant to sound official.
Source: “The “FTC official” even reads off their badge ID (it’s a fake badge).” link
Safe move
Report it
Tell the FTC about it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Source: “Spot one of these scams? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.” link
Tell the FTC about it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Source: “Spot one of these scams? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.” link
Send this to the one who'd tap it.
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