Scams that use the names of companies and agencies — how to spot, verify and report them

In short

Most scams that use a company's name start with an unexpected contact (a text, call, pop-up, search ad or social media reply) and end with a request to move money in a way that is hard to reverse: a bank transfer, Zelle or another payment app, cryptocurrency, gift cards, a wire or cash. Real banks, utilities, carriers, airlines and tech companies do not ask you to move money to "protect" it, to pay with gift cards or crypto, or to read back a one-time code. Before anyone calls, clicks or pays, get the contact details from the company's own website, the back of the card, a statement or a bill, never from the message, the caller or a search ad. If money already left, call the bank or payment company at once and ask for a reversal or recall, then report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IC3.

The numbers

• In 2025, consumers submitted 3 million fraud reports to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network and reported $15.9 billion in losses, up from 2.6 million reports and over $12 billion in 2024. FTC testimony to the Joint Economic Committee, March 25, 2026
• In 2025, the FTC received over 1 million reports about impostor scams, with over $3.5 billion in reported losses; investment scams had the highest losses, over $7.9 billion. FTC testimony, March 25, 2026
• Reported losses to business impersonators were nearly $1 billion in 2025, with the highest losses tied to bank impersonators; losses to government impersonators were about $920 million in 2025, up from $789 million in 2024. FTC press release, June 15, 2026
• Contact method, 2025: a text message was the most frequently reported contact method when people identified one; social media had the highest aggregate reported losses. FTC testimony, March 25, 2026
• Reported losses to scams that started on social media were $2.1 billion in 2025, and nearly 30% of people who reported losing money said the scam started on social media. FTC press release, April 27, 2026
• Payment method, 2025: bank payments had the highest aggregate reported losses, followed by cryptocurrency; credit cards were the payment method identified most often. FTC testimony, March 25, 2026
• The latest Consumer Sentinel Data Book with dollar figures per method covers 2024: bank transfers and payments had the highest losses ($2.09 billion), followed by cryptocurrency ($1.42 billion). Email was the contact method in 25% of reports that named one, with $502 million lost and a $600 median loss; phone calls had $948 million lost and a $1,500 median loss. FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024
• For older adults who reported losing $10,000 or more to a business or government impostor in 2024, 33% paid with cryptocurrency, 20% by bank transfer and 16% in cash; 41% said the first contact was a phone call. Such reports rose from 1,790 in 2020 to 8,269 in 2024. FTC Data Spotlight, August 7, 2025
• The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 1,008,597 complaints with $20.877 billion in reported losses in 2025. Tech support scams accounted for 47,794 complaints and $2,134,675,818 in losses; government impersonation for 32,424 complaints and $797,943,193. People aged 60 and over filed 201,266 complaints with $7.7 billion in losses. FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report

Fake customer-service numbers in search results and ads

• Scammers buy paid search results that use a trusted company's name and put their own phone number next to it, or link to a website that looks official. The FTC says not to assume a phone number in search results is real, to scroll past paid results, and to type the company's address into the browser. FTC consumer alert, April 3, 2025
• When you pay a bill, the FTC says to use the address or phone number printed on the bill. FTC consumer alert, April 3, 2025
• Tech support scammers rank their sites in search results and run ads so that people call the number they list. FTC: tech support scams
• Amazon says not to call numbers sent by text or email or found in online search results. Amazon: how to avoid Amazon scams
• The FBI says to reach official sites by typing the address yourself instead of using a search engine, to skip "sponsored" results, and to check that a government site's address ends in .gov and matches exactly. FBI IC3 PSA, July 20, 2026

Bank impersonation, "safe accounts" and Zelle

• A common pattern starts with a fake fraud alert text from "your bank" about a transaction you did not make. People who reply are connected to a caller who pressures them to move money to keep it safe; the "safe" account belongs to the scammer. FTC consumer alert: never move your money to protect it
• The FTC says that anyone who calls about fraud on your bank, investment or retirement account and offers to protect your money by moving it is a scammer, and that no caller, including one who says they are from a fraud department, will ever ask for your verification code. FTC consumer alert: got a call about fraud activity on your bank account?
• Some of the costliest impostor scams in 2025 began with a fake security alert, often appearing to come from a bank, and losses were often limited only by the money the victim had available. FTC press release, June 15, 2026
• In the "Phantom Hacker" pattern, a fake tech support agent gets remote access, a fake bank or brokerage "fraud department" tells the victim to move money to a "safe" third-party account by wire, cash or cryptocurrency, and a fake government official may follow; victims are told not to tell anyone the real reason. FBI IC3 PSA, September 29, 2023
• Bank accounts have fewer protections than credit cards; the FTC warns that money you are tricked into moving out of your account may not be recoverable. FTC consumer alert
• Banks state this in their own words. Wells Fargo says it will never ask you to move or send money to anyone, including yourself, to reverse a transfer, get a refund, protect your money or fix a problem. Wells Fargo: bank impostor scams USAA says it will never tell you to transfer, send or withdraw money. USAA: report fraud
• In the "send money to yourself" version, a caller tells you to send money to yourself through Zelle to "reverse" a fraudulent transaction; the real goal is to get into your Zelle account and pay the scammer. U.S. Bank: digital payment scams
• Zelle says payments to a scammer go through your own bank or credit union: report the transaction to it directly. Zelle says certain impostor scams qualify for reimbursement, and unauthorized payments typically qualify. Zelle: report a fraud or scam
• If a caller tells you to lie to anyone who asks why you are withdrawing or transferring so much money, or to buy gift cards, go to a cryptocurrency ATM or go to the bank in person while they stay on the phone, the FTC says it is a scam. FTC consumer alert

Utility shutoff threats

• Scammers call, text or email claiming to be your utility and threaten to cut off service unless you pay immediately. The FTC says real utility companies will not demand immediate payment to avoid same-day disconnection. FTC: scammers pretend to be your utility company
• The FTC says your utility will not ask you to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app or gift card, and to contact the utility using the number on your bill or the company's website. FTC: utility impostors
• A variant sends a barcode by text or email and tells you to pay at a store such as Walgreens, CVS or Walmart to avoid a shutoff. FTC consumer alert, August 13, 2024

Package delivery and toll-payment texts

• The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS does not send texts or emails unless the customer first requests tracking with a tracking number, and those messages will not contain a link. Report USPS-related smishing to spam@uspis.gov and forward the text to 7726. USPIS: smishing
• FedEx says it never requests payment or personal information in exchange for releasing a package, and that it does not request personal information by unsolicited mail, email or text. Forward FedEx phishing emails to abuse@fedex.com. FedEx: report fraud
• Fake toll texts claim you owe a small unpaid toll (for example "$12.51") and threaten a late fee, with a link that imitates a state toll service. The FBI says to check your account only on the toll service's official website or by its official phone number. FBI IC3 PSA, April 12, 2024
• The FTC lists fake package delivery notices, made-up "suspicious activity on your account" and fake payment problems among the common lies in scam texts, and says to forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM). FTC: spam text messages

Airline rebooking and travel lines

• Travelers searching for airline customer service can reach fake numbers set up by scammers, who charge to change or rebook flights; another version sends a fake cancellation email or text with a number to call to "rebook" for a price. BBB scam alert, June 5, 2024
• In one reported pattern, the fake agent sends a fee agreement for about twice the original ticket price; victims learn of the fraud when the real airline says it never received a call. BBB scam alert, updated September 9, 2025
• Scammers watch social media for travelers complaining about delays or cancellations and reply from fake airline support accounts, asking for booking confirmation numbers, phone numbers or bank details. The FTC says to contact the airline only through its official app, website, chat or phone number, or staff at the airport. FTC consumer alert, July 25, 2024
• Paid ads can pair a scammer's phone number with a well-known airline or hotel name or link to a look-alike site; the FTC says only scammers say the only way to pay is by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency. FTC consumer alert, June 17, 2026

Tech support, Amazon and Apple impersonation

• Tech support scams often start with a fake pop-up warning that looks like it comes from a well-known company and tells you to call a number. The FTC says legitimate tech companies will not contact you by phone, email or text about a problem with your computer, and real security warnings never ask you to call a number. FTC: tech support scams
• Fake renewal notices for subscriptions (names such as Geek Squad, McAfee or Norton) ask you to call within 24 hours; the caller asks for remote access and a bank or card number to "process the refund", then claims an overpayment. FTC: tech support scams
• Amazon says it will not ask for payment over the phone or by email, will never ask you to buy a gift card, and will not ask you to download software to reach customer service. Amazon: how to avoid Amazon scams
• Amazon impersonators call about a purchase you did not make or a "hacked" account, then ask for gift cards or stage a fake "refund". FTC consumer alert, October 20, 2021
• Apple says it never asks for your Apple Account password or verification codes to provide support, never asks you to disable a security feature, and warns about scam calls that spoof Apple Support. Forward suspicious emails that claim to be from Apple to reportphishing@apple.com. Apple Support: social engineering schemes

Refund and overpayment scams

• In the fake refund scam, the scammer says they refunded too much and asks you to send back the difference. With Amazon impersonators, the scammer moves your own money between your accounts (for example from savings to checking) so it looks like a refund; any money you "send back" is your own. FTC consumer alert
• In fake check scams, someone sends a check for more than the amount owed and asks for the difference back. The FTC says that seeing the funds in your account does not mean the check is good; fake checks can take weeks to be discovered, and you can end up paying the money back to the bank. FTC: fake check scams
• The FTC says never to use money from a check to send gift cards, money orders, cryptocurrency or a wire to anyone who asks. FTC: fake check scams

Recovery scams that target people who already lost money

• Refund and recovery scammers buy or trade lists of people who already lost money, then contact them posing as a government agency, a consumer group, a law firm or the original company, and ask for an upfront "retainer" or "processing" fee or for account numbers. The FTC says anyone who contacts you unexpectedly and asks for an upfront fee to recover money is a scammer. FTC: refund and recovery scams
• The FBI warns of fictitious law firms that target cryptocurrency scam victims, forge documents, cite non-existent regulators, and ask for payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards. The FBI says there are no law firms that are officially authorized partners of US government agencies, and the US government does not request payment for law enforcement services. FBI IC3 PSA, August 13, 2025
• The FBI says IC3 will never ask for payment to recover lost funds, does not contact individuals directly by phone, email or social media, and has no social media presence. FBI IC3 PSA, July 20, 2026

How to verify a contact

• Call back on a number you find yourself: the number on your statement, the back of your card or your bill, or the company's own website. Never use the number the caller gave you or the one in the message. FTC consumer alert
• Caller ID, text messages and emails can be faked; verify by contacting the organization through its official phone number or website. CFPB: common types of scams
• To check a message that claims to be from a delivery company, check the tracking status directly on the carrier's own site instead of clicking the link. USPIS: smishing
• For an airline, use its official app or website, or find its official social media page through its website and check for a verification badge. FTC consumer alert
• For anyone who says they are from law enforcement or a government agency, call that agency's local office yourself and ask it to verify the person's identity. FBI IC3 PSA, August 13, 2025

Payment methods scammers prefer, and why

• Scammers ask for gift cards, wire transfers, bank transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps because, as the FTC puts it, once you pay it is hard to get your money back. FTC: tech support scams
• No real business or government agency will tell you to buy a gift card to pay them; the card number and PIN let the scammer take the money even while you still hold the card. FTC: gift card scams
• The FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized credit and debit card use, while cryptocurrency payments do not have the same legal protections. FTC: what to do if you were scammed
• In 2025, cryptocurrency was connected to $11,366,669,732 in losses reported to IC3. FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report
• Under Regulation E, a transfer made by a third party who got your account access information through fraud is an unauthorized transfer, and a credit-push P2P payment started by such a third party is covered; consumer negligence cannot be used to increase your liability. CFPB Electronic Fund Transfers FAQs

The first hour after a loss

• Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, gift card issuer, wire company or crypto exchange immediately, say the payment was fraud, and ask them to reverse it and refund you. FTC: what to do if you were scammed
• For a fraudulent bank or wire transfer, the FBI says time is of the essence: ask your bank to recall the funds, and file at ic3.gov with full transaction details, because IC3 may help banks freeze the money. In 2025 IC3's Recovery Asset Team worked 3,900 incidents and froze $679,013,183, a 58% success rate. FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report
• If you mailed cash, call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455; for a fee it can intercept a domestic package that has not been delivered. For FedEx or UPS, contact the carrier. FTC: what to do if you were scammed
• If you gave remote access, update and run security software, delete what it flags, change passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. If you gave a username and password, change it on every account where you reused it. FTC: what to do if you were scammed
• If a scammer got your Social Security number, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan; a credit freeze is free and is placed with each of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, while a fraud alert placed with one bureau is passed to the other two. FTC: credit freezes and fraud alerts
• Expect follow-up "recovery" offers after a loss and do not pay anyone upfront to get money back. FTC: refund and recovery scams

Where to report

• Scams and impersonators: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov. FTC: what to do if you were scammed
• Online and cyber-enabled fraud: the FBI at ic3.gov, and your local FBI field office. File only at the official IC3 site. FBI IC3 PSA, July 20, 2026
• Payment app and P2P scams: contact your bank or the payment company right away to say there may have been an unauthorized transaction, then report to IC3, the FTC, local police and your state attorney general. CFPB: common types of scams
• Scam texts: forward to 7726 (SPAM) and use the "report junk" option in your messaging app. FTC: spam text messages
• The impersonated company: forward phishing to the company's own reporting address (examples: reportphishing@apple.com, abuse@fedex.com, spam@uspis.gov for USPS) and report utility impostors to the real utility. Each company's file in this registry lists its reporting channels under security.report_phishing. Apple Support
• Amazon impersonation: use Amazon's self-service reporting tool, or email reportascam@amazon.com if you are not a customer. Amazon: how to avoid Amazon scams
• Fake travel or airline agents: the BBB collects reports at BBB.org/ScamTracker, even if you did not lose money. BBB scam alert