Recognize an FTC Impersonator

If you bought antivirus software from Avast between August 2014 and January 2020, you could be eligible for a payment from a recent settlement in the FTC’s lawsuit. Start by checking your inbox for an email about how to submit your claim by June 5, 2025.

Refund checks totaling more than $18 million are in the mail to more than 281,724 Publishers Clearing House (PCH) customers eligible for a refund as a result of an FTC action. In their case, the FTC said PCH used language and designs to trick people into thinking they had to buy things to enter or increase their chances of winning a sweepstakes. According to the FTC’s complaint, PCH sent emails with deceptive subject lines that led people into thinking the emails were related to official documents, like tax forms.

Have you gotten a robocall about a discount on phone, TV, or internet services? Scammers are pretending to be businesses and making robocalls about “discounted services” if you pay with a gift card. It’s a scam. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.