January 2024

Identity theft can happen in a lot of ways: a stolen wallet, a missing phone, or a hacked online account. Then there are impersonators — scammers who pretend to be almost anyone. They’ll tell you almost any story to get you to trust them, so they can steal your money or information. If you’re a veteran, there’s another risk: sharing information with someone who claims they’ll help with paperwork and filing benefits claims. But instead of helping you for free as they’re supposed to, dishonest advisers charge you — and may take and misuse your information, too.

Whether you’re making funeral arrangements for a loved one in another state, or simply can’t or don’t want to meet with the funeral provider in person to learn about the goods and services they offer, the FTC’s Funeral Rule gives you the right to get accurate information over the phone. FTC investigators recently discovered many violations of the Funeral Rule, including some providers that didn’t give accurate price information over the phone and others that didn’t give out any price information over the phone.

You’ve probably heard about identity theft, but have you heard about Identity Theft Awareness week? That’s when the FTC and its partners host free podcasts, webinars, Facebook Live interviews, and other events to talk about how to spot, avoid, report, and recover from identity theft. Mark your calendars. Identity Theft Awareness Week starts Monday, January 29!

Free means free, right? If you’re TurboTax, not always, according to a new ruling from the Federal Trade Commission. And not for everybody, or even most people— even if an ad says “100% free.”

Got an email or text message about a tax refund? It’s a scam

Identity Theft Awareness Week is a great time to learn how to spot, avoid, and report identity theft. Chances are, you know someone who has experienced identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission to commit fraud. It can happen to anyone, in any community. So how do you get help in your language?

Many impersonation schemes start with a call about a routine problem, like suspicious activity in your Amazon account. But in a new twist, the story quickly takes a more serious turn when you’re told someone is using your information to commit crimes and all your money is at risk.

FloatMe ads promised cash advances of up to $50 and offered instant deposits of “free money” after you downloaded the app and subscribed to a monthly plan. What didn’t the ads say? That FloatMe would illegally turn people down when they asked for money and charge customers subscription fees without their consent. That’s deceptive, according to the FTC’s lawsuit against FloatMe and its cofounders.

Scammers speak your language. Whether you speak a language from Arabic to Vietnamese, or the language of college students or veterans to older adults — scammers know it fluently. With National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) right around the corner (March 3-9, 2024), it’s a great time to help people in your community speak up and speak out in your language. And the FTC is here to help you do just that and start planning your NCPW celebration.

The Department of Justice and the Navy will never ask you to pay to file a disability claim. Want to know who will? Scammers. Keep scammers away from your personal information — and your money — while you’re applying for relief.

With all eyes on the severe weather moving around the country, scammers are paying attention, too. And they’re likely following the path of the storms to target the people affected. So, how do you protect yourself against weather-related scams?

The car shopping process can be challenging — and expensive. Deceptive and unfair practices can make the shopping process even more confusing and costly. That’s why the FTC recently passed the CARS Rule. And it’s why the FTC and State of Connecticut just sued Manchester City Nissan (MCN), its owners, and some key employees.

Donating is a great way to help people affected by natural disasters like the earthquake that hit Japan on New Years Day. But you know scammers try to take advantage of people recovering, and those who try to help. So, how can you be sure your money goes where it’s needed?

As your social media and mailboxes fill up with new year’s greetings, you might see some unfamiliar names. Are the messages from long-lost friends or romance scammers trying to get close? Here are some things to watch for.