BOISE, Idaho — Scammers target and deceive people from all walks of life, taking their money and personal information. To help Idahoans protect themselves from scammers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state agencies held a round table and shared tips on how to spot scams.
The FTC held a press conference at JUMP on Thursday to provide Idahoans with information on how to protect themselves from scams. According to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud last year.
"The goal of this is conversation, information, and action," said Jennifer Tourje, FTC assistant director of the northwest region. "We're sharing information about scams [we've seen]. We're sharing how we can talk with community members, and how to prevent scams."
The FTC stated in a news release that the best way Idahoans can protect themselves from scams that are becoming more diverse and sophisticated is "information."
The Idaho Scam Jam Alliance shared a list of signs to look for in a scam:
- Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know
- Pretending you have an urgent problem or a prize to win
- Pressure you to act quickly
- Ask you to pay them in a specific way, like gift cards, a wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
The Office of the Attorney General, law enforcement, legal aid groups and community leaders were among those in attendance at the roundtable meeting.
For further information and tips on spotting scams, visit the FTC's website here.
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