Consumer Alerts

National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) starts in just a few days. A great way to honor veteran small business owners is to help them spot and avoid scams. And if you’re a business owner

Protecting older adults is a top priority for the FTC, and a new report to Congress outlines how the agency has taken this on. From law enforcement to consumer education to coordination with partners

Planning a trip? Need to book a flight, hotel, or something else for travel? Know that some companies tack on extra charges they make hard for you to see or bury in the fine print — hoping you won’t

Scammers impersonate well-known businesses or government agencies in ads in your social media feed, your search results, and on your favorite shopping platforms. They hope you’ll think they’re the

During open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace (Nov. 1 – Jan. 15), you might feel like you’re seeing ads for health insurance plans everywhere you look and getting similar pitches over

Scammers impersonate all kinds of organizations, including reputable charities. And these impersonators sometimes make you believe that you won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you’ve donated

Here’s the latest twist on FTC impersonators: someone claiming to be an FTC official (who’s really a scammer) calls to say a phone was registered under your name and number and is being used to commit

If you’re thinking of buying a franchise, you’re probably considering lots of factors — weighing benefits like training and brand name recognition with potential risks and costs. Like any other

Sextortion — when someone threatens to share your intimate images unless you pay — can be stressful and upsetting. And figuring out what to do can be overwhelming. While searching for help, you might

Did someone share an explicit image of your child online? Possessing or sharing explicit images of children can be a serious crime — and that includes AI-generated deepfakes. Report the perpetrator

Kids face a lot of challenges online: from cyberbullying and scams to digitally altered deepfakes, like nudify apps that create fake nude photos and videos of real people. Even if you’ve had

Health insurance scams happen year-round, but they pick up during Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace. If you’re looking to find a new plan, you might search online. But before you click

You reported an intimate photo or video shared without your consent. But 48 hours later, the platform hasn’t taken it down or responded to your request. Now what? Report the platform to the FTC at

If someone shares an intimate photo or video of you online without your permission, it can be stressful and upsetting. That’s why the law requires platforms to give you an easy way to submit a

The FTC is hearing about a scam targeting some of the hardest working people out there: farmers. Scammers posing as farm equipment businesses are selling (fake) equipment to farmers, who end up empty

Did someone violate your trust and privacy by sharing your intimate images online without your consent? Or did they digitally alter or create an intimate image of you? You have rights — and online

Recent violent storms, tornadoes, wildfires, heat waves, and extreme flooding are a reminder that severe weather and natural disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, and with little warning. September

Ever tried to pay for parking and discovered you need to scan a QR code to pay? It seems like a convenient way to pay, but it turns out scammers like using QR codes, too. People have reported scammers

While the car-buying process can be stressful, whether you’re shopping online or in person, the thought of driving off the dealer’s lot with that sweet ride you’ve had your eyes on can be exhilarating

Many people experience fraud but never report it, and scammers count on you staying silent. Your story — especially when you share it with friends, family, and the FTC — is a powerful tool in the