Four Scams the FTC Is Warning About Right Now

Scammers move fast when the news cycle is loud. The conflict in Iran gave them fresh material, and they used it. In March 2026, the FTC put out alerts on three Iran-related schemes that are already generating victim reports. A fourth scheme, the fake prize call, has nothing to do with Iran but is running alongside the others and deserves equal attention.

All four follow the same basic logic: build a story that feels real, create pressure to act fast, and push the target toward a payment method or disclosure that is hard to undo. Recognizing the pattern is the first line of defense.

If you received an unexpected call, text, or message about suspicious bank charges, a prize, a service member in need, or a foreign charity, this is for you. If you already sent money or shared personal information in response, act now.

A person sitting at a kitchen table staring at a ringing phone, harsh amber light cutting across the room, noir shadows suggesting danger in an ordinary moment

All four scams start the same way: an unexpected call, a story that sounds real, and pressure to act before you can think.

Scam 1: The Fake Bank Fraud Call

Your bank did not call. That was a scammer.

You get a call or text that looks like it is coming from your bank or a company you use. The caller says your account has fraudulent charges, and they are coming from Iran. They transfer you to a second person who claims to work for a federal agency, often the FTC, who tells you your money is at risk and you need to act immediately. Verify your account information. Move your funds to a safe account. Do it now.

None of it is true. There are no charges. There is no agent. The only fraud happening is the one being run against you.

Federal agencies do not contact you by phone to ask for financial information. The FTC will not call and ask you to verify your account or wire money anywhere. If someone claims to be from the government and needs your bank details, that is the scam.

If you already gave out account information or transferred funds, call your bank the same day. Wire transfers have a short window for potential recovery, and waiting makes it worse.

❓What should I do if someone called claiming to be the FTC and asked for my bank information?

The FTC will never call you and ask for bank account details or tell you to wire money. If you received this call and gave out information, call your bank immediately. Wire transfers have a narrow recovery window. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering funds.

Scam 2: The Military Romance Scam

That soldier deployed to Iran is not who they say they are.

This one is slow-built. You connect with someone online, and the relationship develops over weeks or months. At some point, they tell you they are deployed to Iran. Then something urgent comes up: a medical situation, a problem with their bank account, a fee they need to pay to get cleared for leave. They need your help.

Romance scammers invest time in building a connection specifically so the financial ask feels different when it comes. By the time money enters the picture, the target often has real feelings for a person who does not exist.

A glowing phone screen showing a chat conversation in a dark room, the blue light casting sharp shadows across a desk, a sense of isolation and manufactured intimacy

Romance scammers invest weeks or months building a connection. By the time money enters the picture, the target has real feelings for a person who does not exist.

There are reliable tells. Service members have access to their pay and banking no matter where they are deployed. No legitimate soldier will ask you to send money by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If someone you have never met in person is asking for money and has a reason they cannot access their own funds, you are looking at a scam.

If you sent money, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you shared financial or identifying information, contact your bank and consider placing a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

❓Can a deployed soldier really not access their bank account?

No. Service members have full access to their pay and banking regardless of where they are deployed. The U.S. military does not require soldiers to ask romantic partners for money. If someone you met online claims to be deployed and asks you to send money by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, you are dealing with a scammer. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Scam 3: The Fake Charity

Verify before you give. That charity may not be real.

Fraudulent charities claiming to help people affected by the conflict in Iran are already out there. Some have polished websites, logos, and social media pages that look legitimate. They lean into the urgency of the humanitarian situation and push for donations immediately.

The payment methods they accept are the tell. Real charities take credit cards and checks because those are traceable and can be disputed. Scam charities steer toward cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and wire transfers because those cannot. If a charity will not accept a credit card or a check, stop there.

Before donating to any organization that contacted you first, take a few minutes to verify it. The FTC has a guide at ftc.gov/charity. Charity Navigator and the IRS tax-exempt organization database are also free resources that can confirm whether an organization is real and registered.

A legitimate charity will still be there tomorrow. Urgency that expires today is a pressure tactic, not a real deadline.

❓How can I tell if a charity is fake?

The payment method is the strongest tell. Real charities accept credit cards and checks because those are traceable. Fake charities push for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers because those are not. Before donating, verify the organization at ftc.gov/charity, Charity Navigator, or the IRS tax-exempt organization database. If the charity contacted you first and will not take a credit card, walk away.

Scam 4: The Fake Prize Call

You did not win. That call is trying to rob you.

Out of nowhere, you get a call. You have won a car, a cash prize, a laptop, a vacation. The caller might name a recognizable company like Publishers Clearing House to sound credible. Before you can collect, there is a fee: taxes on the winnings, a shipping charge, a processing cost.

There is no prize. The fee is the scam.

The math feels reasonable: pay a few hundred to collect thousands. But once you pay, the scammer vanishes or comes back with another charge.

A close-up of hands holding a phone with a 'Congratulations You Won' message glowing on screen, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, gift cards and a wire transfer receipt visible on the desk

It works because the math feels reasonable. Paying a few hundred dollars to collect thousands sounds like an obvious yes. But once you pay, one of two things happens: the scammer vanishes, or they come back with another charge. The FTC has documented cases where victims paid thousands in escalating fees before they finally stopped.

The warning signs are the same every time:

You are asked to pay anything upfront. Real prizes do not come with fees.
You never entered the contest. Winning something you never entered is not how sweepstakes work.
The caller pushes urgency. A deadline that expires today is manufactured pressure, not a real constraint.
Payment is by gift card, wire transfer, or crypto. No legitimate prize operation uses these methods to collect fees.
The caller wants personal information. Your Social Security number and bank account details have no place in claiming a real prize.

If you received the call and did not pay, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and move on. If you paid, call your bank or card issuer right away, contact the gift card issuer directly if that was the method, and file a report with the FTC.

These scams tend to target people whose names are on lists sold among fraudulent marketing operations. Engaging with the call at all, even to say no, confirms the number is active. The right response is to hang up.

❓I paid a fee to claim a prize and now they want more money. What do I do?

Stop sending money immediately. There is no prize. Contact your bank or card issuer right away to attempt a chargeback. If you paid by gift card, call the gift card issuer directly. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC has documented cases where victims paid thousands in escalating fees. Every additional payment deepens the loss.

The Pattern Behind All Four Scams

Every one of these schemes runs on the same mechanics. The scammer builds a story that feels real. They create pressure to act fast. They push toward a payment method that is hard to reverse: wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash.

The pressure is the tell. A real bank will wait for you to call back on the number printed on your card. A real charity will still be accepting donations tomorrow. A real prize does not require you to pay anything. A real person who cares about you will not ask you to wire money to a stranger.

If something feels urgent and involves money, slow down. That pause is the single most effective defense against all four of these schemes.

What to Do If You Already Sent Money

If you already sent money or shared personal information, take these steps now:

Call your bank or card issuer. Wire transfers have a short recovery window. Credit card charges can be disputed. The sooner you call, the better your chances.

Contact the gift card issuer directly if that was the payment method. Some issuers can freeze remaining balances.

Place a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if you shared identifying information like your Social Security number.

File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to build cases against fraud networks.

A desk covered with legal documents, a phone showing missed calls, and a pen beside a fraud report form, dramatic overhead lighting casting deep shadows

The window for recovering wired funds is narrow. Every hour matters. Call your bank before you do anything else.

What If Federal Investigators Are Already Asking About You

Most people caught up in these schemes are victims, full stop. But some situations are more complicated. If you forwarded money at someone else's direction, received funds into your account and sent them on, or handed over account access to someone you believed was legitimate, federal investigators may see your role differently than you do.

The statutes that come up in fraud network prosecutions are serious. Wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1343 carries up to 20 years per count. Money laundering under 18 U.S.C. Section 1956 carries the same. Prosecutors look at the full record: what you knew, what you reasonably should have known, and what happened to the money. Being an unwitting participant does not automatically mean you are in the clear.

If investigators have contacted you, or if you have reason to believe your name or accounts are connected to one of these schemes, talk to a defense attorney before you talk to anyone else. The period before charges are filed is when the most consequential decisions get made. Statements made early in an investigation, before a lawyer is involved, have a way of becoming problems later.

❓Can I be charged with wire fraud if I was tricked into moving money for a scammer?

Yes. Wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1343 carries up to 20 years per count. Money laundering under 18 U.S.C. Section 1956 carries the same. Prosecutors look at the full record, including what you knew, what you reasonably should have known, and what happened to the money. If investigators have contacted you or your accounts are connected to one of these schemes, speak with a defense attorney before making any statements.

Talk to a Federal Defense Attorney Now

Aaron M. Cohen, a bald 48-year-old attorney in a dark charcoal suit and purple tie, sitting at a desk reviewing case files under warm desk lamp light, silver watch visible on his left wrist

Aaron M. Cohen has defended clients facing wire fraud, money laundering, and fraud conspiracy charges in federal court.

If you or your loved ones have been contacted by federal investigators, received a target letter, or believe your accounts are connected to a fraud scheme, do not wait. The decisions you make before charges are filed shape everything that follows. Call Aaron M. Cohen, 24 hours a day, at 561.542.5494 to get help.