The FTC warns of an impersonation scam wherein scammers, using a phishing website with familiar branding and dubbed “US Trading Commission”, attempts to lure victims with cash payments if their personal information has been exposed on the web. The goal of this phishing scam, which has popped up as a YouTube link with several different URLs, is theft of personal information, including the consumer’s bank account and electronic wallet information.
The FTC reminds consumers that they will never seek money from you or your personal information in connection with a refund, and that any refunds legitimately issued will be in the form of a check, which will be sent to you. If you have fallen victim to this scam, you may report it at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.
Additionally, please remember to always visit websites by typing known URLs into your browser’s address bar or searching for the legitimate site. Phishing websites designed to mirror legitimate websites have become increasingly common and are often accessed by embedded links in messages, updates, and pop-ups.