MilConsumer Blog Feed

Looking to make changes to your Medicare coverage? Now’s the time: Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period started October 15 and goes until December 7. But as you compare your coverage options, keep an eye out for scammers — they know about Open Enrollment, too.

Despite the best of intentions and careful planning, you may find yourself facing a financial challenge when you least expect it. A furlough, layoff, illness, or emergency can crop up suddenly. Life can be full of surprises for veterans and military families, so, when faced with unexpected expenses or loss of income, what can you do to keep yourself afloat and your finances on track?

Every November, people put out social media posts to honor family and friends who’ve served in the military. But did you know that servicemembers and veterans reported losing more than $350 million to fraud last year? Chances are, fraud has happened to someone you know. This year, make sure your Veterans Day tribute includes ways to help veterans, servicemembers, and military families spot scammers.

Looking to get or switch your Marketplace health insurance during open enrollment (November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025)? Don’t click on ads that say they offer free things like phones or cash cards for gas, groceries, or bills to those who enroll in a health insurance plan. They’re probably scams. The same goes for ads showing a famous person supposedly endorsing an insurance plan or services: That “person” might be a computer-made fake.

Mortgage interest rates may be on the way down, but scammers’ false promises are likely on the way up. If you’re looking to lower your mortgage payment — by refinancing your home or VA loan — learn about your options and how to avoid mortgage relief scams.

Hackers target your email and social media accounts to steal your personal information. Like your username and password, bank or credit card account numbers, or Social Security number. If they get it, they use it to commit identity theft, spread malware, or scam other people. So, what are signs that someone hacked your account, and how can you recover a stolen account?

We recently shared advice to help you safeguard the personal information in your accounts, on your computer, and on your phone to protect it from identity theft. But scammers aren’t just after your data. They want your hard-earned cash, too. Here are some common scams to watch out for.

No one likes waiting in airport security lines. To speed things up, some people opt to get TSA PreCheck. Scammers know this and send emails that look like they're from TSA PreCheck — but they’re not. The emails want you to click a link that takes you to a scam website that only looks like the official site — but it’s not. If you pay to “enroll” or “renew” your TSA PreCheck, you may not even realize you’ve paid a scammer until you get to the airport for your next trip. But there are ways to spot these scams.

If you’ve been grocery shopping lately, you might have noticed that the box, can, or bag you usually buy might feel a little lighter. Sure, sometimes brands repackage and freshen their designs — but sometimes everything is exactly as it was. Just maybe a little smaller with less inside.

Many communities are experiencing devastating losses from recent hurricanes, and no one knows how long it will take to recover. Maybe you’re considering donating to help people in those communities. But how can you avoid charity scams and make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?