The Federal Trade Committee (FTC) has approved an important amendment to the TSR marketing base to integrate the new protection that allows it to take enforcement measures against new fraud that has appeared recently.
These advanced new plans target the older citizens systematically and caused great financial losses and emotional distress. Recent reports from the agency highlighted that consumers between the ages of 60 years or older are likely to fall prey to what they consider to be “technical support stations” more than younger individuals.
FTC expands the phone marketing base to cover technical support fraud, which led $ 175 million of losses between consumers 60 and over last year
– FTC (@ftc) November 27, 2024
Their results It indicates that this group lost at least $ 175 million as a result of these deceptive practices. The agency feels annoying due to the violation of confidence and deep violation of the personal security of this weak group of American society.
The older individuals tend to be less familiar with how to use a simple phone call to extract sensitive data, and they are usually more inclined to believe that the person on the other side is the one who says.
Understanding technical support mechanics
Technical fraud consists of a mixture of social engineering and tactics that are well -standing, which put pressure on targets to make payments for the fully compensated services.
The fraudsters have a wide range of tools in their arsenal to ensure that they look credible for the person on the other side of the phone such as pop -up alerts, misleading notifications, manufactured email correspondence, and carefully made interactions that seek to persuade consumers that their devices may develop malicious program or face serious technical problems.
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Criminals seek to exploit some human reactions, such as fear, uncertainty and doubt in generating anxiety in the goal and demanding that all defense and suspicion mechanisms be overcome. Their goal is to convince them that their personal data may be at risk and that they need artistic assistance immediately to protect themselves.
The fraudsters create an immediate urgency and indicate that an imminent digital disaster can only be avoided through their immediate intervention.
After the fraudsters can get the confidence of the target, they usually provide technical services aimed at solving the weaknesses and issues that their devices are claiming to face. In addition, the target is required to make payments using alternatives that reduce their right to demand the recovery of funds to a minimum.
Some preferred options for those who are scattered to this end include cryptocurrencies, gift cards, and apartment transfers-most of which are non-refundable payment methods. Sometimes, they tell the victims to put the money in a box and send it by mail to them.
It gives new rules FTC permission to take measures on the incoming calls
The amendment made to the FTC marketing sales base in FTC expand the scope of the agency and access to incoming calls. Before this amendment, FTC was unable to take action against companies that have made calls to consumers to sell these unnecessary technical support packages.
However, these companies have crossed these rules by bombing their targets with digital advertisements, popups and direct email messages that claim to have identified security weaknesses within the person’s devices. This legal vulnerability allowed them to escape FTC radar.
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To move forward, the agency now has the legal ability to address technical support fraud that involves incoming calls to the target.
Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC Consumer Office, stressed the importance of these changes, saying: “The committee will not sit inactivity as the older consumers continue to report the fraud in technical support as a major driver of fraud.”
The timing of this new rule has become the subject of discussion between commissioners
The definition of technical support has now been changed to include “any plan, program, program, or service that is marketed to repair, maintain, improve the performance or safety of any device that can be downloaded to the code, installed, operating or using it in another way.”
today @Ftc It is the final touches on new protection against technical support fraud. This depends on anti -historical fraud in 2024:
Banked fraud
Stay tuned for more. https://t.co/22zusbjnyt
– Saalevine November 27, 2024
This expanded definition will give FTC power to take action against fraudsters who target a wide range of devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets and smart home products.
They aim to bridge the gap that a new technology platform is now outside its scope.
The committee’s vote to agree to these amendments was decisive, as it was passed by 4-1 votes. The strong support this amendment by the agency leadership highlights the urgency of these changes to protect weak groups.
Commissioner Andrew Ferguson was the only official who opposes Al Qaeda because he believes that no new rule should be approved at the present time, given that the Biden and Trump administration is going through the customary transition period.
“I will vote against all the new rules that are not required under the statute, and any enforcement procedure develops an unprecedented theory of responsibility until this transition is completed,” Ferguson stressed.
However, the Commissioner Melissa Hollyuk justified this measure by saying that it is not new.
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She also emphasized that although this can be considered a “new policy” by some groups, this measure “is fully in line with the policies of President -elect Trump in the past aggressive to combat mystery, along with” his unavoidable commitment to preserving the elderly in America. “
Most of the provisions of the new base will become valid 60 days after its publication in the federal registry.
According to what was affected by approximately 18,000 victims, supporting technical support in 2023
This new rule of FTC is part of a continuous fight against practices that use advanced methods to target older citizens and other weak groups of American society.
The creation of the Don Don record in 2003 and the additional amendments that sought to address the plans that depend largely on the previously recorded calls and other high -pressure practices.
The timing of passing this new rule is of particular importance as the FBI revealed the severity of the case. A study from the office revealed that technical support fraud is the most frequent way to defraud these individuals. The number of victims affected by these plans approached 18,000 by 2023.
These amendments are a decisive step towards protecting some of the most vulnerable consumers from digital fraud.
Al Qaeda changes also reflect a broader recognition of the advanced nature of technological fraud. When digital platforms become more complicated and fraudulents become more sophisticated, organizational bodies should adapt continuously to protect consumers.
This pre -emptive approach shows FTC’s commitment to remaining at the top of the curve when it comes to emerging fraudulent technologies and protecting our most vulnerable members.
