DEFENDERS: BBB warns of potential scam involving FTC

Con artists have claimed to be from the IRS, Medicare and even the Social Security Administration.

Now the Federal Trade Commission is on the list.

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning that potential scammers are sending people threatening letters and making calls that appear to be from the FTC.

The BBB says anyone who is targeted by this scam could get a letter that looks like it's from the FTC. The letter says that your "online financial activities" have put you under suspicion of money laundering and terrorism. According to the note, the FTC will now monitor everything you do.

The letter itself does not ask for anything, but experts at the real FTC believe it could be part of a bigger scam. The second part will likely involve urgent phone calls demanding potential victims to send money, officials said.

Some people have already reported calls demanding money. Officials said the real FTC does not send intimidating letters or make threatening calls.