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Scams often start with a text, call, or an ad or message on social media. So, if you have a phone or you’re on social media, chances are you’ve heard from a scammer recently. Scammers love sending texts — so much so that last year’s fraud reports to the FTC show more people reporting that a scammer contacted them by text than any other way. Scammers often send texts pretending to be businesses or the government (think fake notices about package...

Having someone share an intimate photo or video of you online without your consent can be stressful and overwhelming. These images, including AI-generated deepfakes, can spread quickly and cause real and lasting harm. That’s why Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act— and why the FTC is holding platforms accountable under the law. The TAKE IT DOWN Act now requires covered platforms—like social media, messaging, and image or video sharing apps and...

If you run a small business, you know how important it is to pay your bills. Scammers know this too and send fake invoices to businesses for products or services they never ordered in the hopes they’ll pay up. These scams often start when you or someone on your staff gets an unexpected or unfamiliar invoice in the mail. It bills your company for things you didn’t order — maybe tech support, domain registration, or search engine optimization...

Powered by vimeo embed video generator Share this video using the links in the player above or use the YouTube version. Looking for ways to celebrate Older Americans Month? There’s something people of all ages can do to participate and help each other avoid scams: Pass It On. The FTC has a different approach to educating older adults about fraud. Pass It On encourages people to lean into their invaluable life experience and use the free materials...

All week long, learn how the FTC can help you protect your small business from scams and online threats. Run a small business or want to support the small businesses in your community? Here’s how you can get involved.

There’s a new text scam the FTC is hearing about. It involves fake recruiters offering fake jobs, stealing real money. Here’s how these scams work — and how to avoid them.

If you’re on social media, you know posts from friends and family might not be the only ones on your newsfeed — scammers are there too. FTC data shows that losses to scams on social media have been increasing dramatically since 2020 — people reported losing $2.1 billion to these scams in 2025 alone. The FTC’s new data spotlight brings to light some of the insights about what scams people experience on social media. Keep reading to learn how to scroll past the scams.

If a company calls you unexpectedly and offers to help lower your credit card interest rate, say “no, thanks.” It’s probably a scammer hoping you’ll pay them for shortcuts that don’t really exist. Here’s how to spot and avoid scams that promise to help lower your credit card interest rate.

You might be interested in making money through investments. Who isn’t? So offers that promise big returns might draw your attention…and scammers know this. They use those promises and clever schemes to lure you in and, unfortunately, people are losing big money on investment scams. In fact, FTC data shows reports of more than $7.9 billion in losses to investment scams, with a median individual loss of more than $10,000 in 2025. Do you know how to spot and avoid investment scams?

Did you get a text with a picture of what looks like an official notice of a traffic hearing? You’re not alone. The FTC has seen a spike in reports about this text scam in the last month. It’s just the latest story of how scammers are trying to separate people from their money. Here’s how this scam works — and how to avoid it.