A new twist on FTC impersonation scams: a caller claiming to be an FTC official says a phone registered under your name and number is being used to commit scams in another country and threatens to deactivate it. They read off a fake badge ID, transfer you to a fake police officer, and eventually demand a "security deposit." None of it is real.

The FBI warns that scammers are exploiting the November 2026 midterms to steal money and personal information — through fake PAC donations, "campaign investment pools" promising guaranteed returns, political merchandise that never ships, and fake voter registration texts and emails designed to harvest your identity.

The FTC has sued a company behind sites like BlackmailHelpline.com and CyberBlackmail911.com for falsely promising to stop sextortion threats — charging victims thousands of dollars and failing to deliver. If someone threatens to share your intimate images, the real help is free: never pay the blackmailer or a paid "helper," and report it to law enforcement.