Recognize an FTC Impersonator

It takes a village of trusted adults to help military kids adapt to new cities and overcome being the new kid in class again. Kids often need that same village of parents, coaches, and teachers to help them navigate safely online. If you’re looking for tools to talk with kids about privacy and online safety, digital citizenship, spotting and avoiding scams, and understanding advertising, Youville can help!

Chances are, you’ve gotten a scam text about unpaid toll charges or know someone who has. Now scammers are going even further and pretending to be the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from states all over the country. They insist that you pay for an “overdue traffic ticket” and threaten to suspend your driving privileges (among other things) if you don’t. Here’s how the scam works.

If someone contacts you unexpectedly and tells you to buy gold bars and hand them to someone (anyone!) to “protect your money,” you’ve spotted a scam. Instead of doing what they say, stop. Want to know how these scams work and how to avoid them? Read on.