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Esta es una de las primeras preguntas que recibimos de la gente: ¿Es esto una estafa? Independientemente de lo que sea “esto”, esta es nuestra mejor respuesta a esa pregunta: ¿Alguien te dijo que solamente puedes pagar con una transferencia de dinero, con una tarjeta de regalo o cargando dinero en una tarjeta que se puede recargar? Si así fue, entonces sí: es una estafa.

Este es un video que, en poco más de un minuto, te muestra algunas de las situaciones que vemos a diario –y lo que debes hacer para enfrentarlas.

 

Si alguien te dice que debes pagar para reclamar un premio, ayudar a alguien a salir de un problema o arreglar tu problema de impuestos con el (supuesto) IRS: nunca una persona legítima te va a decir que tienes que pagar mediante el envío de transferencias de dinero, tarjetas de iTunes o cargando dinero en una tarjeta MoneyPak, Vanilla Reload o Reloadit.

De modo que: mira este video. Si alguien insiste en que tienes que pagar mediante una de esas formas, informa a la FTC. Porque esa será una estafa que queremos conocer.

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237 Comments

Richiet
January 04, 2018
got it thanks.
el-caso
January 04, 2018
una persona que dice ser directora de un banco, ECOBANK BENIN COTONOU LA SRA, DEVORAH C. ALVIN QUIEN ME AUTORIZO 5 MILLONES DE USD, Y ME DICE TENGO QUE MANDAR POR WESTERN UNION 5 MIL DOLARES.
Confused about…
January 05, 2018

En respuesta a por Richiet

Internal Revenue Service send my balance to a collection agency, I called that agency and they told me in order to avoid further collection process for me to pay 80% of my balance my getting a pre-paid visa so it can be process faster. I called Internal Revenue they confirmed this collection agency as their 3rd party collectors but they never should instruct any consumer to get a pre-paid card. Internal Revenue told me to call another number and confirm that the collector I spoke to was indeed their employee. I did and they confirmed that he was. I told the manager what he requested to resolve the balance and she told me yes that is true for those that do not have a checking account or debit card. So I am confused. Should this be legal or not for collection agencies to ask for a prepaid visa card??
M E
March 06, 2018

En respuesta a por el-caso

a mi tambien llené 2 solicitudes y tengo que hacer un deposito similar por western union. son estafadores. te hacen un contrato re trucho.
FTC Staff
January 05, 2018

En respuesta a por Confused about…

It's good that you are asking questions before you send money.

The IRS uses some private debt collectors. The real private debt collectors working with the IRS will never ask you to pay them directly. They will tell you to pay the IRS electronically at IRS.gov/payments, or send a check directly to the IRS that says "payable to the US Treasury."

The IRS website about private debt collectors says: Private collection agencies will not ask for payment on a prepaid debit, iTunes or gift card.

The IRS website about private collectors lists the names and phone numbers of the real private collectors it uses.

You can make a complaint about a private collection agency or report misconduct by its employee, at 800-366-4484.

SIMON QUERALES
January 27, 2020

En respuesta a por M E

Me esta escribiendo a través de mi correo electrónico una sra llamada Maybel James, me dice que quiere transferir unos fondos desde GHANA, me pidió mi información personal, el tema es que en mi firma de correo el cual le respondí aparecían algunos datos, debo preocuparme ??
AB0708
February 13, 2018

En respuesta a por FTC Staff

If someone doesn't have a bank account, they can't pay by check. If someone doesn't have a credit card, then they can't pay electronically. So, maybe the person advised to purchase a prepaid visa, so that payment could be made electronically to the IRS. The comment above didn't say the employee requested the payment be made to him personally via prepaid visa; it just states that he was advised to purchase a prepaid visa to ensure the payment was processed quickly to avoid further collections. IF a prepaid Visa card is purchased in order to pay off a debt, and that prepaid card is used electronically on the IRS website is that still potentially fraud?? I mean, I obviously wouldn't recommend giving the prepaid visa or the pin information to the debt collector, BUT if paying on the actual IRS website is that an allowed form of payment??
No use su dire…
January 22, 2021

En respuesta a por M E

Me sucedió lo mismo con un militar Mark Miller me indicó al segundos de escribirme que me amaba le digo no lo conozco al próximo día me indicó que encontraron un botín de guerra e Irak y como solo podía confiar en mi que le diera mi dirección para enviar 20 millones pero tenía que pagar 6000 por WesternUnion y que lo devolvía cuando el paquete llegara tuve hasta que denunciar al FBI ese correo electrónico
Illona Bustos
September 26, 2021

En respuesta a por No use su dire…

Hola, me está sucediendo lo mismo... Está vez con otro nombre llamado Alex Wong. Dice que es ingeniero maritimo y lo mismo, como me amaba, envio unas maletas con todos su supuesto pasaporte y registro. Que debia hacer transferencia de $2000 por Wester Union o transferencia bancaria. Porfavor ayudenme. Tengo muchas evidencias.
Slowikoowska
January 05, 2018

En respuesta a por Richiet

Stop i not haf accont bank
M E
March 06, 2018

En respuesta a por el-caso

a mi tambien llené 2 solicitudes y tengo que hacer un deposito similar por western union. son estafadores. te hacen un contrato re trucho.
Dough
January 04, 2018
The simple answer, the one that is always correct, is if you think something just might possibly be a scam, it is.
Carlos
January 05, 2018
Excelente el video , muy explicativo y esclarecedor , muchas gracias !
Beverly wood
January 04, 2018
i am trying to get a password for my account of netspend but i can't get a new one that is going to let me sing in ro my account
salvadorw
January 05, 2018
Muy buena información. Les cuento de otra estafa que se realizó en una provincia argentina: llaman por teléfono diciendo que hablaron con personas de su familia (saben los nombres e incluso quien habla imita la voz de uno de los familiares) y que el gobierno dispuso un cambio de moneda para facilitar el sistema cambiario del país. Dicen que va a ir una persona que es subgerente del banco a cambiarle el dinero, mientras tanto va a buscar su plata. Luego aparecen, incluso con autos lujosos, y piden entrar a la casa para hacer el cambio de dinero. Le dicen que con cuanto cuenta y luego de recibirlo manda a un "colega" a llevarse ese dinero y que traiga el nuevo para el cambio. Luego hace que va a apurar a su colega para que entregue el dinero nuevo y se van rápidamente en los autos con los que vinieron. La persona se queda esperando pero... desaparecieron y esa persona se queda sin nada. Este ha sido un hecho real y lo comento para vuestro conocimiento. Cordialmente.
Juanita3399
January 04, 2018
I have been a victim of the ITunes scam. The scammer stole 49,900 from me. I wish I had known about this before it happened. He was very tricky.
My Lady
January 04, 2018

En respuesta a por Juanita3399

I also been the victim of a scam since 6/2017..first begaing with relachionschip on line and escalated from there .i paying his bill.so he said he got a 1milliom 3 hundred and 57 thousand that he will put me as his.beneficiary but never money went to the account so the last thing he did was cancel the papel work to come.home and do it from here..so i did se t for his.flying ticked and i till waeting for him This is very embarrasing this peopler dont have a geart on them.I dont know what im going to do but it took from mi 30 thousa d plus mi car a d all the shame a d enbarrasment tjat go alone with it Im past mi 60+ a d dont know what will happe d from mi now and mi family as i texting im on the street homless
FTC Staff
January 04, 2018

En respuesta a por My Lady

Older adults and their families can find help at eldercare.gov. That is a federal government website. Use the website to look for help in your community for housing options, legal help, food assistance and other needs. Or call this toll-free number: 1-800-677-1116.

brody
May 22, 2018

En respuesta a por My Lady

I believe I am in the middle of a romantic scam, and know just how you feel. I haven't given him near that much, but now he wants over $7000 for delivery of a "Box" that suppose to contain $10million. I think he really does love me. The name he's using is Steve Arthur. Can you tell me about your man? He says he was born in US but working for government in Yemen. Wife died. 2 kids in boarding school. I sent him $1,250 for his son's school registration, and several $100 iTunes cards, a $1000 gold chain. Sound like him? Please reply.
Me too
October 12, 2018

En respuesta a por brody

This guy contacted me on insta....week later he told me he loved me. Now begging for $200 iTunes. He goes by the name of Cosby Parnet hangouts and Donovan McGuire on IG. His story is he's in Djibouti and they don't get paid until February...the end of the deployment. He won't facetime bc he says there's a call ban. Weird. He's stolen some soldier's pictures and account. He won't send anything current...all generic pictures. I have done searches on the images but nothing has come up. He almost fooled me.
HowdidIgetduped
November 15, 2018

En respuesta a por brody

Yes! Used the name David Spencer. Wife dead in car accident, in Yemen, with the United Nations, two kids in boarding school. Had me totally convinced convinced he loved me! He's good at the scamming. Had me going until he asked for money! He needed money to pay the kids book fees, $2,400. I didn't give him any money! He had me convinced. He's good at this. He wanted money for the kids school. The worst part for me was I thought this person loved me.
80s_ 37
October 07, 2019

En respuesta a por brody

What did he look like.me also talk to a man name steven. Which waa the name he uses. Sent him over 3000. Just being nice but never showed. And then had his commander text me . saying he will help me . but never dis so stop talking too him and now calling he's getting ppl to call my phone.
dhd123
April 12, 2021

En respuesta a por brody

A lot of scammers will use two first names as to who they supposedly are. Steve and Arthur are both first names, I have seen something like Mark Jayson, John George etc
Lorrain 477
January 16, 2018

En respuesta a por Juanita3399

Im a victim of IRS scam by using a iTunes card I'm so hurt physical and emotional
carrie 122
February 11, 2018

En respuesta a por Lorrain 477

I feel your pain, my savings was depleted due to a scammer.. i am very hurt physically and emotionally
vivian
February 21, 2018

En respuesta a por Juanita3399

a man called and I answered yes to a question before I thought , is there anything I can do
someone
June 24, 2018

En respuesta a por Juanita3399

I have been a victim of iTunes scam, too. Did you ever get talk to the iTunes company, and did they ever charge you with fraud?
stephanieclaus
August 04, 2018

En respuesta a por Juanita3399

How did he started it all, iTS like I'm going through the same process and I'm afraid it might be related to yours because I have lost 7,600 already .
de101
January 04, 2018
scams i hate
Elois
January 05, 2018
Gracias por su buena explicación a los usuarios,de ésta manera estaremos prevenidos de esos estafadores sin escrúpulos, Dios los bendiga, feliz,2018
Sherry
January 04, 2018
Been scammed it hurts
Lic. Pierre Millet
January 06, 2018
Estas lecciones son muy adecuadas para toda la poblacion mas vulnerables de nuestro sociedad, como lo son los adultos mayores con limitados niveles educacionales, los recien llegados a est grn nacion Estadounidense, que sun no conocen de todo estos delincuentes que siempre estan al acecho de todo al que pueden timar. Todo aquel que se vea en una situcion de estas, deben de asesorarse con personas honestas y bien informadas, asi como deberan de hacer las quejas correspondientes y de inmediato a esta Comision Federl de Comercio de los Estados Unidos de America. Muchas Gracias.
cmiranda
January 08, 2018

En respuesta a por Lic. Pierre Millet

Gracias Lic. Pierre Millet. Y recuerda que pueden hacer una queja sobre cualquier estafa o fraude en Ftc.gov/queja.

Alma
August 23, 2020

En respuesta a por cmiranda

Me piden que compre una tarjeta tunes, vale solo 50 €, esta en un barco , parece tan real....
Mary
January 04, 2018
In addition, they would tell you to overnight a check to them before providing any service! Or, they will ask how much credit that you have left on all of your credit and debit cards to discretely determine how much to charge you (aka scam you out of as much money as they can!) This is what Reliable Business Consultants as one of Top Shelf Marketing Companies did!
No use su dire…
January 11, 2018
en mi caso ha sido por correo electronico, desde almengun pais de afreica, australia, dicen que me he ganado una loteria y piden que le envie dinero o mis datos personales como el numero de mi licencia de conducir, todo lo hacen muy a menudo.
Watcher
January 04, 2018
Ladies and Gentlemen, if you are ever in doubt, the only way to make sure it is a legitimate communication, is to call the company. However, never call by the phone number contained in the email. Look up the company and call them directly and ask if they sent out the email and is it a legitimate offer.
Yasensio
January 13, 2018
Alguien me esta amenazando de guerre o perder mis pertenencias. Su nombre es Bright Perry Essel de Accra Ghana. Que si no le envio dinero tenia que escojer entre mi Vida o mis propiedades. So no tiene fotos comprometedoras no mi informacion personal. Debo preocuparme?
Sick of this
January 10, 2018

En respuesta a por Watcher

Getting scammed over and over. Do scammers sell your phone numbers. Just got a text without a notification. It asked me if I requested an authorization code. If not call (800) 432-1000. When I search this number it comes up with a lot if results saying this number is from ...... Looks suspicious.
Casper
January 04, 2018
I also have been scammed by iTunes cards. To almost 10,000.00. It so devastating. It makes you sick that you could have been so dumb. Especially when you have been friends for over a yr. you wonder why they hate you so much that they could do this to you. I have no trust anymore in anything.
Songbird
September 02, 2019

En respuesta a por Casper

I have been scammed by someone I knew on line for a year mostly itune cards and a box of money to pay my debts after I paid several taxes on this money ...reported to FTC hopefully someday they will pay lost by entire savings.
Mags
January 04, 2018
You should have a presentation on deceptive marketing for those companies that skirt the legalities to rip you off...especially all the companies that offer a cheap product and bury information about it being a "membership subscription" at a couple hundred dollars a month 6 pages into 8 font grey terms and conditions. I think those people are even worse than these obvious scammers.
Angel72
January 04, 2018
I've been scammed. It hurts.
Marta
July 31, 2018
Francisco Miralpeix Alonso, Estafador de mujeres. Hombres como el se alimentan de nuestra autoestima, quieren destruir a todo el que se ponga a tiro. Son psicópatas emocionales, y lo recomendable es cortar la relación con ellos. NO QUIERE comer tu hígado: se alimenta de tu autoestima, tu vitalidad y tu seguridad hasta que te destruye psicológicamente. Actúa sabiendo lo que hace, sin remordimientos: no los tiene porque es incapaz de sentir. Es un psicópata integrado y tú eres la presa.
Timbo
February 10, 2018

En respuesta a por Angel72

I been same thing yes it is hurt me too they owe me a lots of money. I hate crooks.
iriadri
September 18, 2018
Esto me lo mandan despues de negarme a pagar con tarjeta itunes,según ellos como contactaron por una venta en wallapop tengo el dinero retenido porque me ingresaron más dinero osea 100 euros más para el transportista el cual se abona con la tarjeta regalo ya le he amenazado con ir a la guardia civil. ADVERTENCIA !!! Mensaje del equipo de seguridad de PayPal. Este es Brian James del equipo de seguridad de PayPal. Recibimos un correo electrónico de Maria Angeles Garcia Cardona sobre el pago que le envió que indica que no está listo para seguir el procedimiento, queremos que sepa que recibirá el pago pendiente completo en su cuenta una vez que recibamos la imagen del REGALO DE iTUNES. CARD de usted para confirmar que compra la tarjeta y le entregamos todo el pago pendiente en su cuenta de PayPal LA FALTA DE COMPRAR LA TARJETA DE REGALO DE iTUNES CONDUCIRÁ A LAS SIGUIENTES PENAS 1) Serás ENCARCELADO por 4 meses. 2) No tendrá acceso a todo el dinero que tenga en su cuenta de PayPal. 3) Todas sus propiedades serán confiscadas. Estas son las consecuencias bajo la ACCIÓN LEGAL Le recomendamos estrictamente seguir el procedimiento o enfrentará las consecuencias bajo la ACCIÓN LEGAL. PayPal tiene su información de contacto completa.
Mary
January 04, 2018
I was scammed very hurtful and stupid. They are very smart.

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