Protect yourself (and your money) from scammers this Financial Literacy Month

All year long, scammers are looking for ways to steal your hard-earned money. FTC data shows people reported losing $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, which is up $2.5 billion from 2023. April is Financial Literacy Month: a great time to check out the free resources at consumer.gov to help manage your money while protecting it from scammers.

Looking to make a budget that helps you save money, buy a car, rent an apartment or house, or deal with debt? Consumer.gov has the info you need to spot, avoid, and report scams as you make your plans.

At consumer.gov, you’ll get the basics on managing your money and advice on:

• How to protect your money and information from scammers
• What to do if you think you sent money to a scammer or gave a scammer your personal information
• How to protect yourself from identity theft

You’ll also find videos and free, one-page handouts to share with family, friends, and other groups you might be a part of — like your neighborhood association, church group, or club meeting.

And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

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