FTC's New Rule Aims to Combat Impersonation Scams and Recover Stolen Money

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has enforced a new rule to tackle the escalating issue of impersonation scams. The rule, functionally effective today, prohibits impersonation of government and business entities in interstate commerce and empowers the FTC to file federal court complaints against scammers for the return of stolen funds. These scams encompass various fraudulent activities, from hijacking Facebook pages and YouTube accounts to elaborate financial cons. Additionally, the FTC is soliciting public feedback on proposed changes which would extend the rule's coverage to AI and video deepfake impersonations. This initiative signifies a critical step in combating the increasingly sophisticated nature of impersonation scams.