Shopping and Donating

On Monday I leave the FTC after eight wonderful years, most recently leading the Bureau of Consumer Protection. I cannot imagine more fulfilling work. Consumer protection has been my passion since law school, when I advocated for families fighting to stay in their homes after the financial crisis. That experience taught me the importance of a muscular government – one ready to take on powerful interests to protect people from economic abuses. Fifteen years later, I’m proud to leave behind a Bureau that is stronger than ever in advancing that mission.

You’re probably getting emails, texts, and calls asking for end-of-year donations. It’s the season of giving, after all. Scammers know this is a popular time to donate, so they’re out there, too, trying to trick people into giving to them instead of a real charity.

As the holiday season approaches, it seems like there are more and more fake shopping sites. The ads on social media show expensive products like electric scooters, designer bags, and other popular toys and gifts at unbelievably low prices. Many of these bogus sites use photos and logos the scammers steal from legitimate businesses, but they won’t send you authentic products. If you’re wondering how to avoid these phony offers, there are a few ways to help you detect them.