August 2026

It seems like every day, a major weather emergency or natural disaster happens somewhere in the world. To help people affected by disasters like hurricanes, recent flooding in Nepal and Tibet, or recent earthquakes in Venezuela, Japan, and Colombia, you might want to donate money to help. Scammers know that and hope to steal money intended for disaster relief. Here’s what to know.

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 fight against fraud. Here’s why your report matters.

Veterans across the country have reported getting postcards in the mail saying they (or their spouse) might qualify for extra monthly veterans benefits. But the “Veterans Savings Program” mentioned in the mailer doesn’t actually exist. It’s just a scammer phishing for personal or financial information. Here’s how this scam works so you can avoid it.

Did you get a package you didn’t order? It could be a brushing scam where a scammer uses your name to leave a fake review for that package you didn’t order. It could also be a sign that someone has (or is looking to steal) your personal information.

If you owe back taxes, there are ways to get real help. But dishonest companies will promise to get rid of your debt for “pennies on the dollar,” before even looking into your tax situation. They’ll often charge service fees without actually doing anything for you, and leave you further in the hole with local, state, or federal tax authorities.

Planning to pay a bill online? Before you start searching for a company’s payment site, know that dishonest companies sometimes use paid search ads to trick you into paying them instead of the company or agency you’re looking for. Here’s how it happens.

Getting ready for college or back-to-school is a good time to talk with your teens about financial wellness. To help guide the conversation, the FTC has free tools on managing money, building credit, and protecting against identity theft. Creating good habits takes time, but here are some ideas to get you started.

You’re browsing your social media feed when an ad grabs your attention mid-swipe: that designer bag you’ve been dreaming of is 50% off for a limited time only! You’re dying to get your hands on one, so you don’t think twice about clicking on the ad. Why would you? The ad is right there in your feed and it looks real, so you trust that it’s legit. But it might not be. That’s because social media platforms don’t always thoroughly vet the ads you see or the advertisers behind them.

Learn to trade online! Get rich! Quit your job! Social media is flooded with people flashing fancy cars and exotic trips, claiming you can have the same lifestyle just by “learning to trade.” But they rarely mention the truth: trading is risky, there are no guaranteed returns, and you can lose a lot of money fast.

These last days of summer can present opportunities to spend more time with your kids. If you’re talking with your 8-12 year-olds about making good decisions while they’re online, the FTC has a free tool called Youville to help.

They’re the worst of the absolute worst: scams that target people who have already lost money to a scam. If you or someone you know paid a scammer, here’s what to know to avoid scammers who pretend to be helpers.