Imagine receiving a text from someone claiming to be a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) employee who says they can help you recover money you lost in a previous scam. They even send a photo of what appears to be an official government badge and employee ID to prove they are legitimate. It sounds reassuring at first, especially if you’ve already been the victim of fraud, but that’s exactly what scammers are counting on. The FTC is warning consumers about a new impersonation scam that uses fake credentials to build trust before stealing money or sensitive financial information.
This scam is especially cruel because it often targets people who have already reported fraud or lost money in an earlier scam. Criminals know those victims may still be hoping to recover their losses, making them more likely to believe someone claiming to represent the FTC or another government agency. The FTC refers to these as “refund and recovery” scams because the promise of getting money back is what draws victims in.
