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Consumer Alert

Fake prize offers don’t pay

Bridget Small

The pandemic has caused financial distress because of lost jobs, income, and homes, and emotional distress because of social isolation.

Consumer Alert

Spotting scammy emails

Emily Wu

Let’s say you get an email about a charge to your credit card for something you aren’t expecting or don’t want.

Consumer Alert

’Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams

Kira Krown
Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?
Consumer Alert

Credit card debt relief that wasn’t

Ari Lazarus
Credit card debt can be stressful. Interest rates can be high, and if you miss or can’t make your full payments, that growing balance can be overwhelming. Enter a group of companies that promised to reduce or eliminate your credit card debt. (For a fee.) But did they?
Consumer Alert

The top frauds of 2020

Monica Vaca

2020 was a tough year. Between the pandemic and the economic crisis, we all had our hands full. And scammers didn’t take any time off either — 2020 was a busy year for fraud.

Consumer Alert

Not love, actually

Jim Kreidler

Valentine’s Day is this weekend, so over the next three days, we’re talking about romance scams.

Consumer Alert

They give love a bad name

Jim Kreidler

Leaving broken hearts and empty bank accounts, romance scammers give love a bad name.

Consumer Alert

Utility scams are snow joke

Emily Wu

Winter often brings the blues, but when it brings Arctic blasts, burst pipes, power outages, and even icicles indoors, scammers aren’t far behind with weather-related scams.

Consumer Alert

No, that’s not the IRS texting about a tax refund or rebate. It’s a scam.

Gema de las Heras
IRS impersonators have been around for a while. But as more people get to know their tricks, they’re switching it up. So instead of contacting you about a tax debt and making threats to get you to pay up, scammers may send you a text about a “tax rebate” or some other tax refund or benefit. Here’s what to know about the new twist.
Consumer Alert

The FBI won’t ask you for money — that’s a scam

Gema de las Heras
Unwanted calls are annoying — but when a caller says they’re an FBI agent collecting on a legal judgment entered against you, it’s also scary. No matter how urgent and serious the call sounds, neither the judgment nor the agent are real. Like other impersonation scams, FBI imposters are after your money and personal information, and they might even threaten to arrest you unless you pay immediately. (Again: it’s not real.) Read on to learn to spot the scam.
Consumer Alert

Imposter scams targeting veterans and servicemembers

Gema de las Heras
As we continue to honor and celebrate veterans, scammers increase efforts around holidays — like Veteran’s Day — to try to take advantage. Right now, a banking scam is tricking veterans (and current servicemembers) into sharing sensitive personal or financial information. Find out how.
Consumer Alert

Stay away from scams this Medicare Open Enrollment Period

Gema de las Heras
If you or one of your loved ones are on Medicare, you’re probably aware that open enrollment ends on December 7. And you’re probably reviewing and comparing different options to select a plan that’s right for you. But as you shop around, know that scammers might take advantage of this period to impersonate Medicare agents.
Consumer Alert

Veteran entrepreneurs: Spot the scams

Rosario Mendez
The FTC joins the country in honoring veteran entrepreneurs and their families this National Veterans Small Business Week. We offer thanks as you continue to serve communities all over the nation through your businesses. Unfortunately, scammers are ready to take your hard-earned profits and steal your sensitive business data. So, this week, take time to talk to your employees about how scams happen.
Consumer Alert

How to recognize a fake Geek Squad renewal scam

Alvaro Puig
Scammers are at it again, impersonating well-known businesses and trying to rip people off. This time they’re pretending to be from Geek Squad, Best Buy’s tech support service. Here’s what we’re hearing about the scam and what to do if you see it.
Consumer Alert

Scammers are posing as your TV and internet company

Kira Krown
Did Spectrum or another provider call with an offer to lower your monthly TV, cable, or internet bill in exchange for a pre-payment or fee? It wasn’t them. It was a scammer, and you’re not alone. This year, the FTC has gotten thousands of reports — including many from older adults — about scammers pretending to be Spectrum to try to trick people out of their money or personal information.