Article
Timeshares, Vacation Clubs, and Related Scams
If you’re thinking about buying a timeshare or joining a vacation club, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Article
Invention Marketing Scams
Dishonest invention marketers lie about the profit potential of your invention to get you to pay for expensive, but often useless, services. Here’s what you need to know to avoid an invention marketing scam.
Article
How To Avoid Scams When You Shop for a Home Security System
Offers ways to spot and avoid scams when shopping for a home security system.
Article
How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters
Advice to help you choose a contractor, pay wisely, and handle problems along the way.
Article
Refund and Recovery Scams
If you’ve been scammed, someone might promise to help you get your money back –– if you pay in advance. That’s another scam.
Consumer Alert
Fake shipping notification emails and text messages: What you need to know this holiday season
When you order something online, you might get several emails or text messages about your order: Confirming your order. Telling you it shipped. Saying it's out for delivery. Notifying you about delivery. Did you know that scammers send fake package shipment and delivery notifications to try to steal people's personal information — not just at the holidays, but all year long? Here's what you need to know to protect yourself from these scams.
Consumer Alert
Scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal your information
QR codes seem to be everywhere. You may have scanned one to see the menu at a restaurant or pay for public parking. And you may have used one on your phone to get into a concert or sporting event, or to board a flight. There are countless other ways to use them, which explains their popularity. Unfortunately, scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal personal information. Here’s what to know.
Consumer Alert
In the giving spirit? Here’s how to donate safely on Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a terrific time to support your favorite cause or charity. Here’s how to avoid charity scams and make your donations count.
Consumer Alert
Announcing the FTC’s Voice Cloning Challenge
Voice cloning technologies can generate a near-perfect voice clone based on a short audio clip or snippet of someone’s voice. The technology has potential to help people—for example, people who've lost their ability to speak, offering them a powerful and valuable means of communication. But, in the wrong hands, voice cloning technologies can do harm.
Consumer Alert
New help for spotting, avoiding, and reporting scams in multiple languages
Scammers speak your language. That's why the FTC now takes reports in multiple languages. To report in Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, French, Arabic, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, and many other languages, call the FTC at (877) 382-4357. Press 3 to speak to an interpreter. To report identity theft, call (877) 438-4338 and choose the option for your preferred language. Lines are open between 9am-5pm Eastern.