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Consumer Alert

So an online scam is NOT what you ordered?

Kira Krown
This time of year, you’re probably buying lots of things online. Gifts, decorations, food! But what if something you’ve ordered shows up different than advertised? Or damaged? Or never comes at all? If so, you’re not alone.
Consumer Alert

What to do if you can’t make car payments

Colleen Tressler
Trouble making car payments? Worried about repossession? Unexpected life events, like a job loss or drop in income, may affect your ability to pay your bills, including car payments. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make your next car payment, take action as soon as possible. If you get behind on your payments, your lender could repossess your car — sometimes without warning. Read on to learn what to do.
Consumer Alert

Can you trust the marketing claims your genetic testing company makes?

Jim Kreidler
Say you’re interested in learning about your family’s ancestry or your likelihood of developing certain genetically related health conditions. You compare reviews online and order a DNA testing kit. But can you trust the marketing claims and reviews you find? The law, the FTC, and the State of California say you should be able to.
Consumer Alert

Free COVID test kits are back: Here’s how to get yours

Colleen Tressler, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education
Starting November 20, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home.
Consumer Alert

Announcing the FTC’s Voice Cloning Challenge

Alvaro Puig
Voice cloning technologies can generate a near-perfect voice clone based on a short audio clip or snippet of someone’s voice. The technology has potential to help people—for example, people who've lost their ability to speak, offering them a powerful and valuable means of communication. But, in the wrong hands, voice cloning technologies can do harm.
Consumer Alert

Slow your scroll: Spot and avoid social media giveaway scams

Terri Miller
You may have heard us say when you’re shopping online, check things out before checkout. The same advice applies to giveaways on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Here’s why: One in four people who reported losing money to fraud since 2021 said it started on social media. Scammers make it hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake. Want to avoid scams on your feed? Slow your scroll and keep reading to find out how.
Consumer Alert

Searching for a job to work remotely? Avoid scams and identity theft

Gema de las Heras
Found a job listing to telework as a Spanish translator or a data entry clerk with great benefits and pay? Scammers are impersonating real employers on legitimate platforms like ZipRecruiter and Indeed. When you respond, they might even schedule interviews and send you paperwork that looks legit. But it’s all a scam to get your information and steal your money or your identity. Here’s how to know you’re dealing with a scam.
Article

Cosigning a Loan FAQs

When you cosign a loan for a friend or family member, you put your finances and creditworthiness on the line. Here’s what you need to know before you cosign a loan.