Recognize an FTC Impersonator

Need better credit to do things like get a loan, buy a car, or rent an apartment? There are things you can do, but don’t believe a credit repair company that promises to remove accurate and up-to-date information.

Whether you’re hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first. Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd. But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews — and that hurts people and honest companies.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hosts free events like the National Veterans Golden Age Games to encourage older adults in the veteran community to get active for better health and wellness. But veterans are reporting finding websites or pages on social media that charge a fee to register for the games. These are fakes. Whether you’re looking to compete or just want to watch the games, here’s how to cross the finish line without running into a scam.