The FTC is asking people to report fake ads that copy trusted brands and agencies, because one wrong click can cost you money or personal details.
The Federal Trade Commission, the US agency that protects consumers, wants you to report imposter ads. These are ads that pretend to come from a well-known business or a government agency. The FTC says it is exploring more ways to protect people from them.
Scammers copy the look and name of companies you already trust. Their ads can show up in your social media feed, in search results and on popular shopping platforms. The goal is simple. They hope you think the ad is real and click on it.
Anyone who uses social media, search engines or online shopping sites can run into one of these ads. Businesses are affected too, because scammers borrow their names to win trust. If you are not online much, your risk is lower, but the ads are placed where many people spend their time.
A fake ad can lead you to hand over money or personal details. A report also helps other shoppers, since it gives the FTC a clearer picture of what scammers are doing.
The steps are in the alert box above. In short, pause before clicking, go to the real website yourself, and report the ad to the FTC and to the platform where you saw it.
The FTC has not said what new protections it is considering or when they might arrive. It also has not said how reports will be used. For now, the clearest action it asks of the public is to report these ads when you spot them.
If an ad claims to be a trusted brand or agency, do not click it. Visit the real site yourself and report the ad at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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