Consumer Alerts

Looking for an apartment? Many of us start looking online, trusting that the rental sites give us good information. But what if they don’t, and then charge for it? That’s just what the FTC says

You get a call saying your electricity or water will be shut off unless you pay a past due bill. You may not think you have a past due bill. But the caller sounds convincing, and you can’t afford to

A caller says that he’s from the government and your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended. He sounds very professional. So you should do exactly what he says to fix things…right? Wrong. The

September 15 th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month — a time to celebrate the heritage, cultures and contributions of all Latino and Hispanic Americans in the U.S. For us at the FTC, it is

The 2018 hurricane season is upon us. If you haven’t made storm preparations, now is the time. The FTC has information to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from the long-term impacts of a

Do you work or volunteer with people who are concerned about debt or want to improve their credit? Then you might be interested in these three new free booklets. Delivery to your home or office is

Servicemembers understand the serious responsibility of enlisting in the armed forces. But some companies may try to take advantage. If you or a loved one is visiting military recruiting websites to

Fake checks drive many types of scams – like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks

Extreme weather and natural disasters can occur with little warning. This year’s floods and wildfires are proof of that. Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? You can reduce your

Last week, the FTC joined several other agencies and the First Lady for an important conversation about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a tough subject for both parents and educators. That’s why most

Is a new car in your future? You might first have some unfinished business with your old one. While you’re cleaning out your personal items, think about the personal information stored in the car’s

Hurricane Lane is a Category 4 churning in the Pacific with an eye toward the Hawaiian islands. If you haven’t made storm preparations, now is the time. The FTC has information to help you prepare for

“I know about the secret you are keeping from your wife and everyone else. You can ignore this letter, or pay me a $8600 confidentiality fee in Bitcoin”. It’s enough to send shivers down anyone’s

Many school forms require personal and sensitive information. Here are some tips for keeping your child’s personal information safe — from pre-school through college. Safeguard your child’s Social

As summer winds down, it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Here are some tips to help you save time and money. Get the teacher-approved list. Many teachers have lists of items they want their

You probably have a list of things to get done before your kids get back to school. It may include getting school supplies, figuring out carpools, and scheduling afterschool programs. There’s one more

We recently wrote about steps that the FTC took to stop MOBE, an internet business-coaching scheme that was promoting a bogus online business opportunity to retirees and veterans. We’ve gotten a lot

Natural disasters and weather emergencies are in the news. Whether it’s the devastating wildfires along the West Coast, the relentless rains and flooding along the East Coast, or tornado strikes in

Dealing with the aftermath of a wildfire, flood, tornado, or other disaster is never easy, but taking stock and developing a recovery plan can give you a sense of hope and purpose. Here are a few tips

Did your favorite celebrity reach out to you on social media? Before you get too excited, are you sure it’s that person? Really sure? We’ve heard reports that scammers, who will try just about