Local TV flags a new wave of scams
A local‑TV consumer segment warned about a 'new wave of scams' that use fear, urgency and impersonation—often via fake texts or urgent calls—to trick people into sending money. The piece urged viewers to be suspicious of unsolicited high‑pressure requests and to verify identities before paying (firstcoastnews.com).
A Jacksonville consumer segment warned Friday that scammers are leaning on fake texts, urgent calls and impersonation to push people into sending money fast. (firstcoastnews.com) First Coast News said the pitches often arrive as unpaid-toll texts, bank fraud alerts or calls from people claiming to be law enforcement or another trusted institution. The common tactic is pressure: act now, don’t hang up, and move money before you can check the story. (firstcoastnews.com) The Federal Trade Commission said imposter scams were the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024, and consumers reported losing $2.95 billion to them. Losses to government imposter scams alone rose to $789 million in 2024, up $171 million from 2023. (ftc.gov) Texts are now a bigger part of that playbook. The Federal Trade Commission said people reported $470 million in losses to scams that started with text messages in 2024, more than five times the amount reported in 2020. (ftc.gov) Federal regulators have described the same emotional trigger that the Jacksonville segment highlighted. The Federal Communications Commission said scam robotexts often use fear and anxiety and may claim unpaid bills, package problems, bank account trouble or law-enforcement action. (fcc.gov) The Federal Trade Commission’s advice is blunt: do not give money or personal information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly and claims to represent a business or government agency. The agency says to stop, contact the institution through a number or website you find yourself, and verify the request before paying. (consumer.ftc.gov) The Federal Trade Commission also says a real government agency will not order you to move money to “protect it,” buy gift cards, or hand cash or gold to a courier. Those payment demands are treated by the agency as scam markers, not official procedure. (consumer.ftc.gov) The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that impersonation scams keep mutating. In an April 2025 alert, the bureau said criminals were posing as Internet Crime Complaint Center employees, and it logged more than 100 reports of that scheme between December 2023 and February 2025. (ic3.gov) If money is already gone, federal agencies want victims to report fast. The Federal Trade Commission directs people to ReportFraud, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation says the Internet Crime Complaint Center uses public reports to track fraud patterns and support investigations. (usa.gov; ic3.gov)
