By Bridget SmallDivision of Consumer & Business Education Scammers are hiding out on social media, using ads and offers to market their scams, according to people’s reports to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a new Data Spotlight (www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2020/10/scams-starting-social-media-proliferate-early-2020). In the first six months of 2020, people reported losing a record high of almost $117…
By Jabari Cook Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC Scammers love to use the same old tricks in new ways. One of their favorites is to pose as a business or government official to pressure you into sending them money or personal information. Now, some scammers are pretending to be popular online shopping websites, phishing…
By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist, FTC If someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam. Fake checks (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams) drive many types of scams — like those involving phony job and income opportunities, online classified ad sales and others. In a fake check scam, a person you…
By Lisa Weintraub Schifferle Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is alerting consumers to reported waves of “One Ring” or “Wangiri” scam robocalls targeting specific area codes in bursts, often calling multiple times in the middle of the night. These calls are likely trying to prompt consumers to call the number back, often resulting in per-minute toll charges similar to a…
Social Security Administration scams are on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission says SSA telephone shakedowns specifically targeting senior citizens now surpass phony IRS calls, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. Scammers are calling, pretending to be from the SSA and saying that your Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious…
By Lois Greisman Federal Trade Commission, Elder Justice Coordinator You might have read media stories about older people losing lots of money to scams. It does happen — and FTC data show that when people over 80 report losing money, the amount they lose is a lot higher than the amount younger people lose. But…
By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist Federal Trade Commission 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 the Midwest, it’s heartbreaking to see people lose their homes and businesses. But it’s despicable…
By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist Federal Trade Commission Disasters and weather emergencies are in the news. Whether it’s the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Guatemala or the wildfires in Colorado [and California], it’s heartbreaking to see people lose their homes and businesses to the ongoing devastation. But it’s despicable when scammers exploit such tragedies…
By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist Federal Trade Commission Over the past several years, sales of electronic cigarettes have grown rapidly, especially among youth. They currently are the fastest growing part of the tobacco market. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are generally battery-operated and use a heating element to heat liquid nicotine (e-liquid). When heated, the…