MilConsumer Blog Feed

Sorry to burst your bubble. That unexpected text from the Postal Service (USPS), Costco, or The Home Depot telling you about an unclaimed package or a survey you can complete to claim a freebie is NOT from them. It’s a scam. The FTC has seen a spike in reports from people getting text messages that look like they’re from well-known names like USPS, Costco, or The Home Depot and others. Spoiler alert: they’re from impersonators. The details vary...

As Military Consumer Month comes to a close, the work doesn’t end here. While servicemembers, veterans, and their families do so much for our country, scammers continue to target their hard-earned salaries and benefits year-round. Find out about the latest frauds and scams this month and every month on MilitaryConsumer.gov. At this one-stop shop, you’ll find information from government agencies, consumer advocates, and military support groups...

One thing that comes with being in the military is almost constant change — new cities, new homes, new friends — and new cars. As part of Military Consumer Month, if you’re thinking about buying a new car or truck, know that servicemembers and their families are often targets of fraudulent car dealers. Some unscrupulous dealers will advertise for a particular vehicle, or as military friendly, lure you to the dealership, then claim the vehicle is...

Many companies say they want to serve those who serve. But some companies take advantage of our military personnel and use unlawful practices to lure them into deceptive deals. That’s why the FTC and eighteen states have brought charges against Harris Jewelry for violating federal and state lending and consumer protection laws. This is also the FTC’s first case alleging violations of the Military Lending Act (MLA). Harris sold jewelry, watches...

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate the proud identities, contributions, and culture of 40.8 million people with disabilities in the U.S. It’s when we recognize how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed on July 26, 1990, protects so many people from discrimination in countless ways every day. Let’s also make it about helping the people you care about avoid scams. What we know from our Every Community work is that...

It’s summer, peak moving season for military servicemembers and their families. You’ve got enough on your plate without having to worry about identity theft. But the reality is scammers are getting more and more clever with their tactics to swindle members of the military community. In fact, five years of identity theft data reported to the FTC on IdentityTheft.gov shows that active duty servicemembers are 76% more likely to report that an...

American servicemembers sacrifice so much to honorably defend the nation. But dishonorable scammers make it their mission to con servicemembers out of their hard-earned money and benefits by pretending to be trusted companies and government agencies. During Military Consumer Month — and all year round — we’re empowering servicemembers, veterans, and their families to spot and avoid impersonator scams. Scammers come up with all sorts of stories to...

July is Military Consumer Month. Whether you’re a new recruit, a servicemember PCS’ing with your family, or a soon-to-be veteran, the FTC wants to share some ways to steer clear of rip-offs and scammers. If you’re preparing to leave the service, you might be looking at ways to make a living while you’re exploring new career options. Maybe you’ve arrived at a new duty station and your spouse is looking for work. Today we’re talking about how to...

Veterans Day is a time to thank veterans for their contributions to our nation, and welcome to the civilian workforce the roughly 200,000 servicemembers who leave the service every year. Transitioning personnel face many decisions: figuring out changes to their benefits, revamping their budget, and planning for a civilian job. If you’re like the majority of veterans, you might want a career different than what you did in the service. Here are...

While American servicemembers stand ready to defend the nation, smalltime scammers and large corporations alike have them in their sights. They follow the money — and they know that military personnel get a steady paycheck and valuable benefits from Uncle Sam. And the eventual transition back to civilian life gives the scammers even more opportunities to target the troops. For instance, the FTC uncovered that the University of Phoenix (UOP), a...