Markets Wired

Putting a new twist on an old scam, con artists are posing as government officials when they tell consumers they have won a sweepstakes prize. Crooks also take advantage of Internet technology, which can make it appear that they are calling from Washington, DC, or the consumer’s hometown while they tell consumers they represent the Federal Trade Commission or some other government agency.

To learn more about how to avoid this type of scam, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt167.shtm.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(FYI govt officials)