MilConsumer Blog Feed

You might be a spouse who’s PCS’d to a new location or a servicemember getting ready to retire — and you’re probably eyeing new career possibilities. You know where to look for a job, but do you know how to recognize the signs of a job scam?

People are getting letters in the mail from a law firm saying that one of their clients has died and they’re looking for the heir. You are, they say, that heir! (Spoiler alert: you’re not.) The letter goes on to explain their offer: they want to split the proceeds between you, some charities, and their law firm. But what’s really going on?

Investment scammers claim you’ll get big returns investing in a hot new money-making “opportunity” — maybe something like cryptocurrency. Some scammers say you’ll likely make a lot of money if you follow their proven system or method. But will you?

Lots of scams start online, but sometimes the scammer parks right next to you at the bank or outside a store. People are reporting millions of dollars lost in a scam that targets active-duty military and plays on their desire to help. In this con, scammers approach servicemembers to ask for help because they lost their debit card and need to pay for something like a hotel room or groceries. They want you to transfer them money using your phone, but it's a scam.

If your new online friend or romantic interest says they have an emergency and need money, it might not mean they have bad luck. It’s more likely they’re a scammer trying to grab your money. So, how can you tell if an online “friend” is a fraud?

Did someone supposedly spot fraud or criminal activity on one of your accounts? Did they offer to help “protect” your money by moving it from your bank, investment, or retirement account? Maybe they even asked you to share a verification code? If anyone did any of those things, it’s always a scam. So, what do you do next?

Buying a used car instead of a new one might save you some money. But finding, researching, and negotiating to get a used car can be challenging. Online sellers might claim to make buying a used car cheaper and easier, but some sellers use tactics that might end up costing you time and money.

Do you wear glasses or know someone who does? Read on to learn about important updates to your rights under the Eyeglass Rule.

Some student loan debt relief companies will lie and say they’re affiliated with the Department of Education when they’re not. They want their bogus claims of “guaranteed” loan forgiveness (for a fee) to seem more legitimate (they’re not).

July is Military Consumer Month, so we’re deploying advice you can use. No matter what stage of military life you’re going through, you could encounter an imposter scam: someone pretending to be your bank’s fraud department, the government, a relative in distress, a well-known business, or a technical support expert. Want to protect yourself and the people you care about? Let the FTC help.