Christopher Wray

FBI PSA on Frauds and Scams

first published on 21 August 2024

[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio]

Hi, everyone. I’m Chris Wray, the FBI Director.

Every day, fraudsters carry out a wide range of scams targeting innocent Americans: things like elder fraud schemes that prey upon older Americans; romance scams that take advantage of the lonely; charity fraud schemes that exploit people who just want to help, especially after things like natural disasters; Ponzi schemes and other business cons involving supposedly low- or no-risk investments; and tech support schemes, where criminals posing as IT support offer to “fix” bogus computer problems so they can gain access to victims’ electronic devices and sensitive information.

To deceive their victims, fraudsters are using technology -- things like the Internet and AI [Artificial Intelligence] -- to make their ploys more convincing. And we even see criminals impersonating law enforcement officers to target victims who’ve already lost money through scams. At the same time, fraudsters have incorporated cryptocurrency into all sorts of schemes so they can quickly move the money they steal overseas.

Whatever the type of fraud or tactics they use, these fraudsters all share one goal: to rob unsuspecting citizens of their hard-earned money.

So, how can you avoid being a victim of fraud?

Well, your best defense is a healthy skepticism -- especially, especially when it comes to unsolicited contact you receive. Don’t just assume people are who they say they are.

Be careful what you share -- whether it’s your money, your bank account details, your Social Security number, or other sensitive information -- especially with people you’ve only talked to online or over the phone. And most important, remember: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you do become a victim of fraud, please contact the FBI as soon as possible, so we can help you, and also stop scammers from harming others. You can call your local FBI field office or reach out to us online at tips.fbi.gov. You can also report online fraud schemes to our Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. And with your help, we can put fraudsters out of business.

Thanks.

Original Text, Audio, Video Source: FBI.gov

Video Note: Frame rate modified from 30fps to 60fps

Page Created: 9/15/24

U.S. Copyright Status: Text, Audio, Video = Public domain.