Security smarts for smartwatches

September 22, 2017

Lisa Lake, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Smartwatches have quickly gone from sci-fi to commonplace, and it’s easy to see why. Users can conveniently manage messages, music, fitness, and more right from their wrists as they go about the day. But enjoying the convenience of a smartwatch means trusting it to keep your data safe. Smartwatches...

What’s affiliate marketing? Should I care?

September 20, 2017

Rosario Méndez, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

Many of the ads you see online are created by marketers who are paid each time you click on their ad. And if that click takes you to a website where you sign up to try a product or you make a purchase, the marketer may get paid even more. These are affiliate marketers. They are hired by the owner...

Free credit freezes from Equifax

September 19, 2017

Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education

Many people have had very sensitive personal information exposed in the Equifax breach — Social Security numbers, account numbers, even drivers’ license numbers. Equifax is offering free credit freezes until November 21, 2017. The company also will refund fees to anyone who already paid for freezes...

Fraud alert or credit freeze – which is right for you?

September 15, 2017

Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education

Considering a fraud alert or credit freeze? In the aftermath of the Equifax data breach, many people are. You don’t need to be an identity theft victim to use them – but it’s helpful to consider your situation. If you’re not sure which is best for you, here are some things to think about. What do...

Equifax isn’t calling

September 14, 2017

Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education

Ring, ring. "This is Equifax calling to verify your account information." Stop. Don’t tell them anything. They’re not from Equifax. It’s a scam. Equifax will not call you out of the blue. Equifax’s recent data breach. Other calls might try to trick you into giving your personal information. Here...

Make your hurricane donations count

September 12, 2017

Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are wreaking devastation from Texas to Florida to Puerto Rico, and beyond. Generous people across the country are doing what they can to help their neighbors in need. If you’re thinking about donating money to a charity, here’s how to make sure your dollars go to the...

Questions about military retirement?

September 12, 2017

Alesha Hernandez , Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Retirement is a big transition in a servicemembers’ life. It will affect you, your family and your finances. Military Consumer and @StopFraudCo will host a Twitter chat to talk about what retirement means for military families on September 14, 2017 at 1 p.m. M.T. / 3 p.m. E.T. We’ll talk about...

The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do

September 08, 2017

Seena Gressin, Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

If you have a credit report , there’s a good chance that you’re one of the 143 million American consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. Here are the facts, according to Equifax. The breach...

Helping wounded warriors

September 05, 2017

Carol Kando-Pineda, Counsel, FTC's Division of Consumer & Business Education

David Winfrey was one of the excellent panelists at our recent military financial workshop in San Antonio. David is a financial counselor at Fort Sam Houston. He has a passion to help wounded warriors with the challenges they face. David says his clients were “sailing along and then there was a...

Rental cars: Life in the toll lane

August 31, 2017

Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

If you’re planning a business trip or vacation, you may have to make a decision about how to pay tolls when you rent a car. Most rental car companies offer ways to pay tolls automatically, but that convenience comes at a cost. Here’s how the devices work. In many parts of the country, your rental...

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