FTC warns of scammers impersonating the agency itself

The US Federal Trade Commission has warned about a new scam in which callers pose as FTC officials, claim the victim's phone number was used for crimes abroad, and "transfer" them to a fake police officer. Victims are pressured into handing over personal data and wiring money as a supposed security deposit under threat of arrest.

• FTC issued the alert on October 22
• Scammers impersonate both FTC staff and police
• Victims are told to wire money as a security deposit
• FTC never demands money or threatens to disconnect a number