Here at the FTC, we’re known for getting things done on behalf of regular people. Unfortunately, sometimes scammers try to take advantage of our good reputation.
The latest example: Some people have gotten an email that claims to be from Maureen Ohlhausen, the FTC’s Acting Chairman. But it’s not. The email asks you to give your bank account information – so, it says, you can get money from the government’s settlement with Western Union. The email is a scam to steal your financial information. And it’s just the latest variation of an imposter scam. In 2016, consumers reported more complaints about imposter scams to the FTC than any other fraud.
If you get an email like this, don’t respond or click on any links. You can forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.
The FTC is involved in a $586 million settlement with Western Union, but the U.S. Department of Justice will run the refunds process. And it hasn’t started yet.
This email is a good reminder that scammers are skilled liars. They’ll say anything or claim to be anyone to get your financial information – then they’ll use it to steal from your financial accounts or commit other crimes.
The FTC does shut down scams and return money to people who lost it to dishonest or unfair business practices. But we will never ask for money, your Social Security number, or any banking information so you can apply for a refund or cash a check. If the FTC needs to get money to you, we usually send a check through the mail.
This originally appeared here
Western Union Settlement FAQs — English<https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/western-union-settlement-faqs>, Spanish<https://www.ftc.gov/es/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/preguntas-frecuentes-sobre-el-acuerdo-con-western-union>
Spanish version of this message<https://www.consumidor.ftc.gov/blog/la-ftc-no-necesita-tu-informacion-bancaria> and another alert about a recent scam targeting Latino populations<https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/new-avoid-telemarketing-scams-fotonovela>. The message above is available only in English and Spanish currently. Getting it to groups who can translate it into other languages may be very important in preventing this scam from ensnaring ESL constituents.
Other general publications about scams in various languages:
Avoiding Scams Against Immigrants:
Russian<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/system/files/publications/rpdf-0013-avoiding-scams-against-immigrants.pdf>, Arabic<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/avoiding-scams-against-immigrants-arabic>, Vietnamese<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/avoiding-scams-against-immigrants-vietnamese>, Spanish<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/scams-against-immigrants-what-do-spanish>
Sending Money to Family and Friends Overseas:
Chinese<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/sending-money-family-and-friends-overseas-chinese>, Korean<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/sending-money-family-and-friends-overseas-korean>, Tagalog<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/sending-money-family-and-friends-overseas-tagalog>, Vietnamese<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/sending-money-family-and-friends-overseas-vietnamese>
Who Can Help Me? Immigration Help Wallet Card:
Russian<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/who-can-help-me-immigration-help-wallet-card-russian>,Arabic<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/who-can-help-me-immigration-help-wallet-card-arabic>, Korean<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/i-need-immigration-help-who-can-help-me-korean>, Haitian Creole<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/avoiding-scams-against-immigrants-haitian-creole>
Spotting, Avoiding & Reporting Scams: A Fraud Handbook for Recent Refugees and Immigrants:
Somali<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-somali>, French<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-french>, Arabic<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-arabic>, Spanish<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-spanish>, English<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-spanish>, Dari<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-dari> –a variety of Persian spoken in Afghanistan, Amharic<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-amharic>-an Ethiopian language
Small Business Scams: English<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/small-business-scams>
More FTC scam awareness publications here<https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/spotting-avoiding-reporting-scams-fraud-handbook-recent-refugees-and-immigrants-spanish>
