The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer alert emphasizing that it never threatens individuals or requests money through phone calls, messages, or emails. With the recent advancements in technology and the role of artificial intelligence (AI), it has become significantly harder for scammers to carry out their schemes effectively. Scammers employ various tactics to steal money and personal information, often targeting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, immigrants, and those who may lack technological awareness.

The FTC firmly clarifies that they will never ask you to transfer money for protection or instruct you to withdraw cash and hand it over. If you encounter such a scenario, it is crucial to recognize it as a scam and report it. To combat these deceptive practices, the FTC has detailed numerous potential scam scenarios in its alert, reinforcing that claims of fraud or criminal activity regarding your accounts should be treated as dishonest attempts to defraud.

The agency highlights the positive impact of AI in spreading fraud alerts, stating that enhanced search engine algorithms ensure FTC advisories appear prominently in search results. Moreover, the FTC’s chatbots are designed to provide clear, direct responses to common inquiries, such as whether the FTC will contact you via text or make threats. The answer is a definitive “No,” reiterating that any communication of that nature is a scam.

Unfortunately, scammers are also leveraging AI technology, making their efforts more sophisticated. They can utilize AI-generated voice imitation and face-swapping techniques to deceive targets into believing they are communicating with legitimate representatives. If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent a government agency and requesting payment, do not engage directly.

Instead, visit the official website of the agency or call them to verify the legitimacy of the communication.