FOLLOW US

With scammers coming up with numerous ways to defraud people amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday cited ways to help consumers avoid phone scams.

FTC warned those living in Staten Island to pay close attention to two scams that have popped out of the agency's radar, which seem to be targeting people in the area.

FTC said one of the phone scams that alerted their attention extorts parents. It starts with someone texting you a photo of your own child — that they could’ve grabbed off of the internet, like your social media account. The messages come with a threat that the scammer knows where you live and will kill your family if you don’t pay them.

The other phone scam, according to FTC, targets immigrants. This scam starts as an imposter call from someone pretending to be from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). FTC said these scammers often say your immigration status is being revoked, and authorities are on their way to arrest or deport you — unless you pay them money right away.

To protect consumers’ identity and money, FTC called on the public to do these things if you received these kinds of messages or calls:

1. Never respond to calls or texts, and never shell out money, even in the face of threats.
2. Immediately report these scams to your local police department and file a report before the FTC through ftc.gov/complaint.
3. Make your social media accounts private. This can keep scammers from getting personal details, or grabbing pictures you don’t want to be shared.
4. Know that the government will never call or text to threaten you or ask for money. If you’re concerned, look up the agency’s real number and call them directly. Ask them what the story is.

The agency said one thing you can count on is that a phone scammer will try to get your money or your personal information to commit identity theft.

The FTC advised the public to heed their advice wherever you are since scammers don’t often stick with one area. The agency said they could expand their target area any time now.

----------------------------------------

Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it.

Want to contribute a story? We also accept article submissions – check out our writer's guidelines here.