SCAM ALERT: Watch Out for Online Bill-Payment Impersonators

🚨 AIGISHIELD SCAM ALERT — FTC consumer warning issued August 17, 2026.

What’s happening: The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about misleading online bill-payment sites and search advertisements that can make a third-party payment service look like the official payment channel for the company or agency you are trying to pay.

How it works: You search online for a company’s bill-payment page. A paid search result may use familiar company names or branding and lead to an unrelated payment service. Consumers may not realize they are using a third party and can encounter unexpected fees or other misleading practices.

Warning signs: A payment page reached through a sponsored search result; a web address that does not match the company you intended to pay; unexpected fees; or a site that appears official but does not clearly explain its relationship to the biller.

Protect yourself: Look past paid search results and confirm that you have the correct website or contact information. When you know the company’s official web address, type it directly into your browser instead of relying on a search advertisement.

Official source: Federal Trade Commission — https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/searching-online-bill-pay-impersonators

Think it might be a scam? Let AigiShield check it out for you. 🦉