We have received reports of an imposter Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, entitled “US Trading Commission” that is being used to fraudulently capture sensitive information from unsuspecting individuals. The website appears realistic and looks official. It even includes the FTC’s seal and physical address.
The fraudulent website claims to compensate those who have had their Personal Identifiable Information (PII) leaked on the internet. Instead, the fake website redirects you to malicious links disguised as YouTube URLs, and states that this is where you can instantly receive cash compensation. When you click on the link, it brings you to a page that requires you to fill out your personal information and possibly download malware. The information you provide then gets sold on the dark web.
Although the authentic FTC does, in fact, compensate victims, they would never ask you for money, nor would they ever request your bank account, credit card or social security number information. If you were to be compensated by the FTC, you would receive a check in the mail from them.
If you believe you or a loved one may have fallen for this scheme, please contact us so we can assist you with protecting your accounts and identity. You should also report the scheme to federal officials at identitytheft.gov. For more information, please also visit the legitimate FTC website at ftc.gov/enforcement.