Phone Scammers Pose as FTC

The following are headlines from stories aired in my Consumer headlines on 10/21/08...

Con artists are trying to collect money under the name of the very organization that helps protect consumers from fraud. Scammers claiming to work for the Federal Trade Commission are calling consumers, claiming they've won a lottery or sweepstakes. They then ask you to pay the taxes and insurance on the winnings- and you receive nothing in return.

The public may be fooled- because the scammers are able to make it appear on caller I.D. that they're located at FTC headquarters in Washington DC. Officials with the FTC say the commission never collects money from consumers. If you receive one of these calls- hang up.