BRADENTON, Fla. — While technology continues to advance, so do the tactics of scammers looking to exploit it. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), more Americans, especially seniors, are becoming victims of fraud.

A Manatee County woman, who swore she would never fall for a scam, recently found herself caught in one. Too embarrassed to use her full name, Marilyn is sharing her story in hopes of preventing others from falling victim to similar schemes.

“I lost $2,400,” she said.

Her ordeal started with an email early one morning.

“I got an email from what looked like Chase Bank, saying there was an Apple Pro charge on my account for $1,500,” Marilyn recalled. “The email said to call a number to resolve the charge.”

She called the number and was told by someone who sounded like a representative of Chase Bank that they would fix the charge, but she needed to report it to the FTC. The person on the other end of the line said they could transfer her directly to the FTC.

“They gave me a case ID number, a phone number and an FTC number,” Marilyn explained.

The conversation led her to believe that the authorities were working to catch the hacker and needed her help.

“They said they were working on it and had a plan to track down the hacker,” she said. “They told me what to do next.”

The scammer instructed Marilyn to go to Lowe’s and buy gift cards.

“They told me to buy a $1,500 gift card or a combination of a $1,000 and a $500 card,” Marilyn said. “The manager at Lowe’s even asked me if I was being coerced.”

Going along with the plan, Marilyn told the manager she was not and left with a $1,000 gift card. They wouldn’t sell her any additional gift cards.

She headed to her car, where she would call back who she thought was the FTC.

“I had to give them the pin on the back of the gift card,” she said.

After providing the scammer with the gift card number and PIN, the scammer instructed Marilyn to continue her purchases. She was told to head to Walmart, her bank and then to Winn Dixie, where she bought $1,400 worth of gift cards.

“I bought seven $200 eBay gift cards,” Marilyn said. “When I got back to my car, I scratched off the pins and gave him the numbers for all the cards.”

But when the scammer promised to meet her the next morning to return her money, she began to realize something was wrong.

“I caught on right then,” Marilyn said. “That’s when I started to contact Channel 10, the FBI and the real FTC. They took all my information,” she added.

The FTC confirmed that scams like Marilyn’s are on the rise. A recent report from the FTC revealed a 25% increase in fraud losses across all age groups in 2024, with seniors losing more than $2.3 billion.

“We will never, the FTC will never threaten you,” Christopher Brown, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, said. “The FTC will never say that you must transfer your money to protect it. The FTC will never tell you to withdraw cash or give it to someone, and we will never tell you to pay with a gift card.”

If you receive a suspicious email or phone call, experts recommend hanging up immediately and verifying the contact information by looking up the company or agency online.

“Don’t trust caller ID,” Brown said. “It can be spoofed, and the name on the caller ID can be faked.”

The number Marilyn had been given by the scammer no longer worked when we tried it. However, she knows the criminals behind this scam will continue to target others.

“It was terrible,” Marilyn said.

The FTC also advises that consumers call the gift card company listed on the back of the card if they’ve been scammed, as some companies may be able to help recover lost funds. Additionally, victims should report any fraud to the real FTC. 

The Better Business Bureau also tracks scams in your area. It agrees with the FTC that more people are getting duped. The company knows it can be challenging to keep up with the thousands of new scams every year. However, if you remember these ten tips, it says you will be able to protect yourself and your family:

1. Never send money via gift card or wire transfer to someone you have never met face-to-face. Seriously, just don’t ever do it. If they ask you to use a wire transfer, a prepaid debit card or a gift card; those cannot be traced and are as good as cash. Chances are, you won’t see your money again. See the Federal Trade Commission’s video on how scammers try to convince you to pay. If someone is trying to convince you to pay this way, stop, get off the phone or the computer and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Report the activity to BBB Scam Tracker. Check out the BBB tip for avoiding online purchase scams.

2. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails. Links, if clicked, will download malware onto your computer, smartphone, tablet or whatever electronic device you’re using at the time, allowing cyber thieves to steal your identity. Be cautious even with an email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Instead, delete it if it looks unfamiliar and block the sender. Take a look at the BBB tip for how to spot a scam email.

3. Don’t believe everything you see. Scammers are great at mimicking official seals, fonts and other details. Just because a website or email looks official does not mean that it is. Caller ID is commonly faked. Learn more about avoiding impostor scams.

4. Double-check that your online purchase is secure before checking out. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL (the extra s is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Better yet, before shopping on the website, make certain you are on the site you intended to visit. Check out the company first at BBB.org. Read reviews about the quality of the merchandise, and make sure you are not buying cheap and/or counterfeit goods. Look for a brick-and-mortar address listing on the website itself and a working phone number. Take an extra step and call the number if it is a business you are not familiar with. Learn how to identify a fake website.

5. Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone you’ve met online. Scammers use dating websites, Craigslist, social media and many other sites to reach potential targets. They can quickly feel like a friend or even a romantic partner, but that is part of the con for you to trust them.

6. Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone, by email, on social media, or even at your front door. This includes banking and credit card information, your birthdate, and Social Security/Social Insurance numbers. Protect you and your family from identity theft.

7. Resist the pressure to act immediately. Shady actors typically try to make you think something is scarce or a limited-time offer. They want to push victims to make a decision right now before even thinking through it, asking family members, friends, or financial advisors. Sometimes, they’ll advise against contacting anyone and just trusting them. While high-pressure sales tactics are also used by some legitimate businesses, it typically isn’t a good idea to make an important decision quickly. Know what to look for when spotting a scam.

8. Use secure and traceable transactions.  Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or another non-traditional payment method (see number one above). Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, overpayments, and handshake deals without a contract. Read all of the small print on the contract and make sure to understand what the terms are. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities when it comes to payment types.

9. Whenever possible, work with local businesses.  Ask that they have proper identification, licensing, and insurance, especially contractors who will be coming into your home or anyone dealing with your money or sensitive information. Review Business Profiles at BBB.org to see what other people have experienced. Research BBB Accredited home improvement businesses and contractors before making a final decision.

10. Be cautious about what you share on social media. Consider only connecting with people you already know. Check the privacy settings on all social media and online accounts. Imposters often get information about their targets from their online interactions and can make themselves sound like a friend or a family member because they know so much about you. Then, update and change passwords to passphrases on a regular basis on all online accounts. Protect yourself from fake social media accounts

Our colleagues at 11Alive recently reported how scammers are faking emergencies to exploit good Samaritans. Here’s what to look out for with your phone’s security.