Scammers Took $3.5 Billion by Posing As Someone You Trust. Social Media Let Them In

The ‘Medicare representative’ with a better plan

The ‘Social Security raise’ you have to verify

The ‘fraud department’ that wants you to move your money

The surprise refund from Amazon or another retailer

The celebrity who wants to make you rich

The government grant nobody applied for

If you already clicked or paid

Act fast. Call your bank or card company, change your passwords, and report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you handed over personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step recovery plan, and consider freezing your credit. If you’re worried about what a thief could do with your data, you can compare identity protection services in our Solutions Center.

Want the FTC to hear from you? Once its notice is published in the Federal Register, you’ll have 60 days to comment at Regulations.gov on whether the platforms should do more.

And for defenses that work even on your worst day, read “The Scam Defense That Works Even When You’re Tired, Sick or Distracted.”