COVID-19 contact tracing text message scams

May 19, 2020

Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about contact tracing . It’s the process of identifying people who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, instructing them to quarantine and monitoring their symptoms daily. Contact tracers are usually hired by a state’s department...

Did a nursing home or assisted living facility take your stimulus check?

May 15, 2020

Lois Greisman, Elder Justice Coordinator, FTC

Do you or a loved one live in a nursing home or assisted living facility ? Are you (or they) on Medicaid? If you said “yes” to both, please read on and prepare to get mad. We’ve been hearing that some facilities are trying to take the stimulus payments intended for their residents on Medicaid. Then...

Fighting Coronavirus scams: Taking stock

May 08, 2020

Andrew Smith, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the FTC has released dozens of warning letters against people trying to make an illegal buck off the Coronavirus. More than a month in, it seem s like a good time to look back at what’s happened. If you follow this blog, you’ll know these have been busy...

Coronavirus and your mortgage

May 05, 2020

Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education

Because of the Coronavirus, many people are facing financial challenges, especially paying their mortgage. If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you could lose your home to foreclosure. Federal lenders and some private lenders are offering borrowers temporary help, like stopping or...

Economic Impact Payments: May 5 deadline for some SSI and VA beneficiaries with kids

April 29, 2020

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

Are you an SSI or VA beneficiary? If you didn’t file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and have dependent children, you must register with the IRS by noon Eastern Time on May 5 to get an additional $500 economic impact payment for dependents — or else you’ll have to wait until you file your 2020 tax...

New funding for Coronavirus SBA loans attracts scammers

April 28, 2020

Rosario Mendez, Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

If you’re a business owner, you may be planning to apply for a loan through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. These programs recently got hundreds of billions of dollars in new funding. But, while you’re focused on getting a loan, scammers...

Coronavirus stimulus payment scams: What you need to know

April 20, 2020

Alvaro Puig, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

We know there’s been a flood of information and updates about the government’s economic impact payments, or so-called stimulus checks, lately. But quickly and safely moving massive amounts of money into the hands of those who need it is a big job with a lot of moving parts. We also know that the...

Here's what we’ve been doing over the past year to help military families plan for their next financial journey

April 15, 2020

Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB released its annual report about the work of its Office of Servicemember Affairs (OSA) over the past fiscal year to help servicemembers, veterans, and their families achieve financial well-being. As noted in the report , this work has included education, outreach, coordination with other...

COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers

April 15, 2020

Paul Witt, Lead Data Analyst, Division of Consumer Response & Operations

If you’re a regular reader of this blog — or of the news, you know that scammers are out in force, taking advantage of all aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve spotted plenty of bogus cures and treatments, but many of you have told the FTC about straight-up scams, like texts/emails/calls from...

Looking for work after Coronavirus layoffs?

April 14, 2020

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

Have you or a loved one been laid off due to the Coronavirus? Or maybe your small business shut down? Today, the FTC kicks off a series of blogs with tips about handling the financial impact of the Coronavirus. These days, many people start by looking for ways to make money working from home. If...

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