February 2024

If you’re in the checkout line with a gift card (or several) in your hand, ask yourself: is the gift card you’re buying for a gift? Or is someone on the phone with you as you’re checking out telling you what to do – like buy a gift card to pay for something and give them the numbers? Gift cards are ONLY for gifts. That means if the gift card isn’t for someone’s birthday, anniversary, or for any other gift giving reason, it’s a scam.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2024 is next week, and we hope you’ll attend some of the virtual and in-person events we have planned. NCPW is a time when the FTC, national and local organizations, and individuals from across the country get together to bring you information and advice on scams, identity theft, and other consumer protection issues.

People hate filing taxes, but they love getting something for free. So, when H&R Block advertises that people can use its online tax product for free, people listen. The problem, according to the FTC? It often isn’t free.

Software provider Avast sold products to people that were supposed to protect their privacy online. But in a recently settled lawsuit, the FTC says Avast’s business practices actually compromised consumers’ privacy and broke the law.

Did you visit a LasikPlus or Joffe MediCenter in response to ads that you could get LASIK for less than $300 only to learn that you didn’t qualify for that price? You might be eligible for a settlement payment.

When you have a new romance there’s so much to talk about. But if your new sweetheart only wants to talk about your money and how you should invest it, stop talking. They might be a romance scammer, like those who stole more than $1 billion from people last year. How do the scams start, and what can you do to avoid one?

You’ve heard about scammers who pose as government workers, calling to demand your money or information. But imposters are running scams by mail too. They’re sending fake forms and letters from made-up agencies to small business owners and demanding payment ASAP. Here’s what to know and do if you get a letter like this.

As record rainfall and heavy winds devastated the West Coast, you can bet that scammers are standing by, ready to get started after the storm. How can you spot the scammers?

Playing cupid? A quick online shopping scroll shows tons of exciting Valentine’s gifts for those you love. If you order now, many sellers guarantee delivery on or before Valentine’s Day. But what happens when your order doesn’t arrive by that guaranteed date? As a customer, you have rights. Here’s what to know.  

Every day people report to the FTC the scams they spot. Every year, the FTC shares the information we collect in a data book which tells a story about the top scams people tell us about – so we can all spot and avoid them.

February is Black History Month — a great time to help raise awareness in Black communities, and among your family and friends, by staying on top of the latest scams that might affect them. We know that talking about a scam helps you avoid it — and it helps people you care about avoid them, too. Connect with the FTC and share what you learn with others.