Being scammed, that’s pretty usual these days. But being scammed twice in a row? That’s new.
If you have recently lost money to a scam, be careful. Because scammers have a new tactic. They call up the victim and claim that they can recover lost funds. However, the victim has to pay them, hand over personal information or allow them remote access to a computer first.
In case you’ve been wondering, yes, this is a scam, as the FTC has warned on its website.
Scam, or not?
Scammers often claim to be from the FTC’s Refund Department or Refund Division, they also use the name of a real FTC employee.
However, the real FTC never requires you to pay fees or asks you for sensitive information, like your Social Security number or bank account information. The FTC also never asks for remote access to your computer. If someone claims to be from the FTC and does, it’s a scam.
Don’t fall for the refund scam
- If the FTC contacts you about a refund, you’ll always find information about the case at ftc.gov/refunds. You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit.
- Get the effective protection against scammers. Get the Should I Answer app which blocks all incoming scam calls before they even reach you.