WATCH: Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert Warns Public of Impersonation Scams

Federal Trade Commission staff will never request money transfers under any circumstances

ABOVE VIDEO: The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning that scammers continue to find new ways to deceive the public, often by pretending to be someone official.

(FTC) – The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning that scammers continue to find new ways to deceive the public, often by pretending to be someone official.

One of their most alarming tactics has been impersonating commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission, some of the nation’s most prominent fraud fighters.

The FTC emphasized that no commissioner or staff member will ever instruct anyone to move money to protect it. They will never demand that a person cash out a 401(k) or savings account, nor will they direct individuals to hand over funds to someone else.

Despite this, reports come in every week from people who believed they were speaking with an FTC representative and were pressured to follow such instructions. In many cases, scammers also tell their targets to keep the calls secret, a tactic designed to prevent victims from seeking help.

Officials are urging the public to recognize these red flags and spread the message that FTC staff will never request money transfers under any circumstances. Neither Chairman Andrew Ferguson nor Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Mark Meador would ever make such demands.

To help raise awareness, the FTC has released a video message featuring its commissioners, the first in a series aimed at stopping these impersonation scams. The commission encourages everyone to watch the video and share it widely with friends and family who may be vulnerable to such schemes.

The FTC reminds consumers that any caller who insists on secrecy or discourages independent research is almost certainly a scammer. By staying alert and informed, the public can help stop these impersonators from succeeding in their attempts to steal money.

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