Consumer Alerts

Did you get a text with a picture of what looks like an official notice of a traffic hearing? You’re not alone. The FTC has seen a spike in reports about this text scam in the last month. It’s just

If you’re signed up for a rewards program, you may have gotten texts warning that your points are expiring soon. A message like that may catch your attention, but people are reporting to the FTC that

Did you get a call or text saying you’re eligible for thousands of dollars in unclaimed property? Don’t get excited yet. It might be a scammer looking to steal your money or personal information. Here

With global attention focused on the conflict in Iran, it’s no surprise scammers have already added that situation to their story lines. Some recent reports to the FTC about imposter, romance, and

While the gift-giving holidays are over, scammers still want gift card money. Some scammers might even reach out by pretending to be your boss and asking you to buy gift cards for them. But it’s a

You get a text message, supposedly following up on a $10,000 loan application. Only, you never applied for a loan. Is this pure luck or a scam? Before you use the callback number in the message to

We’re seeing a big wave of reports about phone scams claiming you owe back taxes. But it’s not the IRS calling, it’s a scammer using a company name like “Tax Resolution Oversight Department.” If

You never know where your big Hollywood break will come from. But it probably won’t start with an unexpected text message about a virtual casting call. That’s likely a scam. Learn the cues to avoid

If you own a business or know someone who does, you know how important a trademark is for protecting your intellectual property. Scammers do, too, and they’re impersonating the United States Patent

A voicemail from an unknown caller reminding you about a $52,000 loan that you didn’t apply for can throw you off balance. Which explains why scammers send them — hoping you’ll respond first and think

Scammers are pretending to be Amazon again. This time, they’re sending texts claiming there’s a problem with something you bought. They offer a refund if you click a link — but it’s a scam. Here’s how

If you want to use your driver’s license to fly, you’ll need a REAL ID. If you don’t have one yet, your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the place to go, and they’re only taking in-person

Do you feel like you’re getting more emails from strangers than messages from people you actually know? These unexpected messages are often phishing scams trying to steal your money and personal

Have you ever gotten a text message about a package coming via the United States Postal Service? Maybe it confirmed your order, said a package is out for delivery, or said there’s a problem like

Did you know that people almost always open text messages? In a new Data Spotlight about the big jump in reported fraud losses involving text scams, the FTC notes a study finding open rates can be as

Your Social Security number is an important key for an identity thief. Scammers want it, and they think of all sorts of ways to trick you into giving it away. Here at the Federal Trade Commission, we

You’re not the only one getting scammy text messages about unpaid toll charges or issues with your Amazon account. Chances are your tweens and teens with phones are getting them, too. Sure, you can

Marriott International says that a breach of its Starwood guest reservation database exposed the personal information of up to 500 million people. If your information was exposed, there are steps you

Maybe you weren’t thinking about selling your timeshare — but suddenly, someone calls and tells you they’re a real estate agent and have an interested buyer. They might have information about you and

Is there a legit reason for someone to send you to a Bitcoin ATM? The short answer is NO. Will someone from the government send you to a Bitcoin ATM? NEVER. If you’ve followed this Anatomy of a Scam