From the Federal Trade Commission

'Pending FTC complaint' emails are fakes

By Amy Hebert, FTC consumer education specialist

[April 21, 2014]  Have you gotten an email with the subject line "Pending consumer complaint" that looks like it came from the FTC? The email warns that a complaint against you has been filed with the FTC. It asks you to click on a link or attachment for more information or to contact the FTC.

These emails pull out all the stops to look official: They have an FTC seal, references to the "Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA)" and a "formal investigation," and what look like real FTC links. The truth is that they're fakes.

We've heard from many people that emails like this are making the rounds. If you get one, don't open it. Don't click on the links. If you click on the link, it may install malware on your computer. Malware can cause your device to crash and can be used to monitor and control your online activity, steal your personal information, send spam and commit fraud. You can forward the email to [e-mail], but then delete as soon as you do.

[By AMY HEBERT, Federal Trade Commission; published in FTC blog]