MilConsumer Blog Feed

The FTC has been cracking down on deceptive tech support operations that call or send pop-ups to make people think their computers are infected with viruses. Scammers ask for access to computers, then charge people hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs. In Operation Tech Trap , the FTC and its partners announced 16 actions against deceptive operations, and the FTC temporarily halted the operations of several defendants. Recently, a woman...

Skimmers are illegal card readers attached to payment terminals — like gas pumps — that grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe without your knowledge. Criminals sell the stolen data or use it to buy things online. You won’t know your information has been stolen until you get your statement or an overdraft notice. Skimmers are nothing new, but technology has made them smaller and harder to find. Sometimes, they’re even hidden...

Here at the FTC, we’re known for getting things done on behalf of regular people. Unfortunately, sometimes scammers try to take advantage of our good reputation. The latest example: Some people have gotten an email that claims to be from Maureen Ohlhausen, the FTC’s Acting Chairman. But it’s not. The email asks you to give your bank account information – so, it says, you can get money from the government’s settlement with Western Union. The email...

Before you head to the eye doctor, take 30 seconds to watch a new video from the FTC about your eyewear prescription rights. Federal law requires your eye doctor to give you your contact lens prescription after your fitting and your eyeglass prescription after your exam. And you don’t have to ask for it or pay extra . That lets you shop around for the best deal. To learn more, visit FTC.gov/contacts or FTC.gov/contactos in Spanish. Follow us on...

You might have seen ads for companies that say they can reduce your debt – sometimes for cents on the dollar. All you have to do is pay them. But these offers are not always what they seem. Watch this video to see the story of Ms. Dorothy Council, an active 84-year-old from Philadelphia, and her experience with a debt settlement company. (And the legal services attorney who helped her sort it all out.) Before you jump into any kind of debt...

Our new fotonovela, Talking about Scams , tells the story of Eva and her husband, Pablo, who learn how talking about a scam can help someone avoid falling for a scam. As the story illustrates, if you think you spotted a scam, it’s a good idea to tell somebody. Even if you’re not sure it is a scam, talking to someone—a friend, a neighbor, a loved one—could help them avoid it. Sometimes, hearing yourself describe the scam to someone else could help...

Identity theft can happen to anyone. I’m a fraud investigator, and I’d like to tell you about my identity theft. Knowing how to respond will help you if you ever have to recover your identity. My purse was stolen recently. Charges appeared on my credit cards before I even knew it was gone. I knew I had to act quickly to protect my identity, so I went to IdentityTheft.gov . It’s the site where you can file a report and get a personalized recovery...

Score one for people on the Do Not Call list. It’s been eight years of tenacious litigation by the Department of Justice, the FTC, and the Attorneys General of California, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio against satellite TV provider Dish Network. But, earlier this week, the Court imposed a record-setting $280 million civil penalty against Dish for calls to people on the Do Not Call list, abandoned calls, calls to people who had told Dish they...

Over the years, lots of rip-offs have been built around exotic “investment” strategies that were pitched as simple. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued warnings about investment scams using “binary options” as a hook. Not familiar with binary options? Then you’re probably better off keeping your money in your pocket. In fact, you can stop reading now, unless you’re fascinated by...

On June 8 , @MilConsumer and @StopFraudCo (the Stop Fraud campaign of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office) will host a chat to discuss how to avoid travel and vacation scams. The chat starts at 3:00 pm ET/1:00 pm MT. Join in at #Milchat.