Skip to main content
Displaying 661 - 680 of 1328
Consumer Alert

Grandma got a scam call from a reindeer

Jennifer Leach
When it comes to unwanted calls, there are a few universal truths. First, you can’t trust caller ID. Second, nobody likes a robocall. And third, it’s all about call blocking. If you watch The
Consumer Alert

Frosty the Con Man: avoiding family emergency scams

Carol Kando-Pineda
“ Hello? It’s me — Frosty. Look it’s a long story but without my top hat, I’m melting. Please, I need your help — send money now or I’ll be nothing but a puddle!” OK, so that’s a silly example and
Consumer Alert

Baby, I stole outside

Jim Kreidler
You’ve finished your online shopping, your gifts have shipped and you’re waiting for them to arrive – but some Grinch decides to ruin your holiday. On this 9th day of Consumer Protection, we’re
Consumer Alert

Santa doesn’t need your Social Security number

Jim Kreidler
This year, during the pandemic, your holidays might be moving a bit online. On the 10 th day of Consumer Protection, maybe you’re planning to send e-cards to family and friends. Or maybe your kids are
Consumer Alert

All I want for Christmas…is what I ordered

Carol Kando-Pineda
You’ve probably spent a good part of 2020 doing some online shopping. Now that the holidays are here, you definitely want to be sure you — or your friends and family — actually get what you ordered
Consumer Alert

And a smart fridge in a pear tree

Jennifer Leach
On this 12 th and final day of consumer protection — just of this series, you understand, not ever — here are a few reminders as you head toward whatever holiday you celebrate (or don’t) this December
Consumer Alert

New tools to fight gift card scams

Cristina Miranda
This holiday season (and year-round), gift cards are on scammers’ wish lists. Scammers always have a reason for you to pay them immediately with a gift card. And they often tell you which card to buy
Consumer Alert

Wrapping up 2020 with more car wrap scams

Ari Lazarus
We just heard from more companies that scammers are using their names to trick people into a car wrap scam. This time, scammers are saying they’re Marlboro or Purell (but they’re not really). The gist
Consumer Alert

Know your rights during Medicare Open Enrollment

The Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center
During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which ends December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can choose the plans that are best for them. You can get help comparing Medicare plans from the State
Consumer Alert

Last call for Economic Impact Payments: Nov. 21 at 3 ET

Jennifer Leach
Have you gotten your Economic Impact Payment yet? If you haven’t, time is running out. You have until November 21 at 3pm Eastern Time to enter your information with the IRS . Here’s the drill: If you
Consumer Alert

Holiday shopping season 2020

Shameka Walker
The holiday season is upon us and retailers are already preparing for what they hope will be a successful shopping season. Because of COVID-19, it’s likely that we’ll be going online to look for those
Consumer Alert

Non-filers: Expect a letter about your stimulus check

Lisa Lake
If you don’t usually file a tax return, or didn’t file a return for 2018 or 2019, you might not know you could qualify for an economic impact payment. You might be one of the nine million people
Consumer Alert

Threatening phone scams are targeting parents and immigrants

Cristina Miranda
Two disturbing phone scams have popped up on the FTC’s radar. Both scams have one thing in common: they want to trick (and scare) you out of money. If you live on Staten Island, pay close attention
Consumer Alert

How to spot, avoid, and report imposter scams

Colleen Tressler
Imposter scams often begin with a call, text message, or email. The scams may vary, but work the same way – a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money or share
Consumer Alert

Overpaid your utility bill? That’s probably a scam

Lisa Lake
You get a robocall saying you paid too much on a utility bill. To make up for this mistake, they say, you’ll get a cash refund and a discount on your future bills. All you have to do is press a number
Consumer Alert

Online Trading Academy debt forgiveness notices are real

Cristina Miranda
As we told you about in this recent post , Online Trading Academy (OTA) is sending letters and email notices to people who are eligible for debt forgiveness. These notices are real, so don’t delete or
Consumer Alert

Temporary stop of COVID-19 evictions: what you need to know

Shameka Walker
In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a temporary order to stop evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That moratorium ended on August 26, 2021 for renters in