The secretary of state is not emailing you
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- February 20, 2018
- 1520
There are many scammers who pretend to be government officials, from the IRS, Social Security and even the FTC. The latest twist is an email from supposedly the secretary of state.
You get an email from someone pretending to be Secretary Tillerson. It says you are owed a payment, which he knows about because of an investigation by the FBI and CIA. The email also tells you that you will get an ATM card with $1.85 million on it, and it even gives you the PIN code. But to get the ATM card, you are told you need to pay $320 and answer a lot of personal identifying questions.
Here’s what you can do the next time you get an email or call from someone claiming to be from the government. Did they say you’ve won a prize, owe money or might go to jail? Did they say you can get the prize or get out of trouble if you pay them money right away? If the answer to these is yes, that’s going to be a scam.
With technology today con artists can use any phone number or listing they want on your caller ID when calling potential victims. Verify the person calling before answering any questions.
If you feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone. Then do your own research to find the actual phone number to ensure you are speaking with the right person.
If a government entity is attempting to get ahold of you, they will send you a letter. They will never call and demand immediate payment.
When you have been targeted for a scam, tell your friends to help them avoid becoming a victim. Also report your scam to the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov and to BBB’s Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.
Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam with Scam Tracker, read tips, follow us on social media and more.