As global attention focuses on the conflict in Iran, scammers are quickly adapting their tactics to take advantage of the situation. According to the FTC, these schemes follow familiar patterns—imposter scams, romance scams, and fake charities. But now they conveniently  include references to Iran to seem more believable and urgent.

One common tactic involves scammers posing as banks or companies, claiming suspicious charges linked to Iran. Victims are then “transferred” to fake government officials who pressure them to share sensitive financial information—something real agencies will never request. Another variation targets people through online relationships. Scammers pretend to be military personnel deployed to Iran and fabricate emergencies, asking for money under urgent circumstances. Lastly, fraudsters are also creating fake charities, claiming to support those affected by the conflict. They often push for donations through hard-to-trace methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.

The bottom line: while the storyline may change, the goal is always the same—steal your money or personal information. Stay cautious of unexpected messages, verify requests independently, and act quickly to report any suspected scams. To learn more and read the full alert from the Federal Trade Commission click here.