The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a warning to consumers about scammers impersonating the agency to target victims.
“This week, we confirmed that scammers are using CFPB employees’ names to try to defraud members of the public,” the bureau stated in a release. “We’ve heard from people, specifically older adults, who received phone or video calls.
The bureau reminded consumers it will never contact them to ask for sensitive information or to request money – this includes any upfront fees or taxes, lottery winnings, sweepstakes, or class action payouts.
Signs that an email or phone/video call is a scam include:
The CFPB requested anyone who has been contacted by the bureau and wants to confirm if it is real or a scam to call its consumer call center at (855) 411-2372 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
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