Owning gold bars might seem appealing, but a new warning requires caution. WINK News Security Analyst Richard Kolko provided details on the latest alert from the Federal Trade Commission.
Terri Miller, a consumer education specialist at the FTC, warned, "There are no government agencies that are going to tell you to buy gold bars and hand them to anyone."
"There are no government agencies that are going to tell you, similarly, to move your money, to protect it, or to hand cash to anyone," said Miller.
This warning is part of a larger concern about scams attempting to steal personal information and money. The advice is simple: if you receive one of these calls or emails, delete it and do not respond.
The FTC offers several tips to protect personal information. Do not give out personal info over the phone or online, avoid clicking on suspicious links, take your time if someone pressures you, and never pay with gift cards or gold bars.
According to the FBI's Internet Complaint Center, Florida ranks third in both the number of fraud complaints and total financial loss.
If you suspect a scam or have lost money, report it to the FTC, the FBI, or local law enforcement.