FTC chair warns against scam tactics after viral column

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan issued a warning about scam tactics after a column in New York Magazine’s The Cut went viral.

“Being a victim of fraud can have dire consequences.” Khan said in her thread. “No one at @FTC will ever give you a badge number, ask you to verify your Social Security number, ask how much money you have in your bank account, forward you to a CIA agent, or send you a text message. Let me remind you that there is no Blue.”

Khan’s thread followed a Thursday column by the paper’s financial advice columnist called “The Cut” that went viral online. We talked about being scammed. out of $50,000 by people posing as FTC and CIA employees.

“Scams where fraudsters pose as the government are very common,” Khan continued in the thread. “Last year, Americans lost $2.7 billion to identity fraud.”

Khan also linked to the FTC’s website to report fraudulent activity and information about fraud and identity theft. ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

“When you report a scam, the FTC can use that information to bring cases against scammers, identify trends, educate the public, and share data about what’s happening in your community. Masu.” The FTC says on its website:.

In a November Gallup poll, a majority of respondents said they were worried about being scammed by scammers. 57% of survey respondents said they often or sometimes worry about being scammed by scammers or having access to their financial accounts, making it second only to identity theft as a top crime concern among Americans. It has become.