MilConsumer Blog Feed

You wouldn’t leave your house keys in the door, would you? Of course not — most people keep their homes and cars locked and secured at all times. If not, someone could get in and steal your belongings and personal information.

Ever complete an online application to get the best rate on a loan? Or enter your email address on a website to learn more about colleges you’d like to attend? Getting products and information this way can be convenient and very fast. But the information you share may go through the hands of middlemen you may not know exist.

Are you a servicemember, family member, PFM or other leader in the military community? You won't want to miss this webinar on July 13 at 1:00pm (EDT) with tips from our new site, IdentityTheft.gov. Recovering from identity theft is easier with a plan. Learn about the Federal Trade Commission’s new site, IdentityTheft.gov , which streamlines and consolidates the federal government’s resources to combat this crime. We’ll also discuss other forms of identity theft affecting tax returns, medical files and even children’s future credit history, as well as best practices to help you protect your information. We hope you'll join us to learn the latest about bouncing back from identity theft.

It’s no secret that servicemembers and their families face particular challenges and stresses. Scam artists are skilled at knowing exactly how to exploit those challenges. They’ll lie or try any trickery to make a grab for a servicemember’s cash. That’s why the FTC has teamed up with the Department of Defense, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs, and Military Saves on Military Consumer — a campaign to empower military and veteran communities with tips and tools to be informed consumers.

Have you ever thought about having your very own solar system — that is, solar panel system? You may see ads urging homeowners to “go solar” — use renewable energy, buy less electricity from the utility and maybe get a tax break. There are several ways to get solar power at home : you can buy a rooftop system, lease a system, or sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power a system produces. If you’re thinking of using solar power at home, consider the costs and benefits of the arrangements:

Let me set the scene: your friend John is rushing to get his daughter from school and his son to the soccer field, and he still needs to stop at the grocery store because there’s nothing in the fridge. In the midst of this everyday madness, he gets a text message from Google with a verification code. He thinks, “That’s weird. Maybe I should log in to my email and see what’s going on.” Before he has a chance, he gets another message. It says: Google has detected unusual activity on your account. Please reply with the verification code sent to your mobile device to stop unauthorized activity. What should John do?

Tired of robocalls? The FTC just shut down Payless Solutions , a scam using illegal robocalls to lie about lowering your credit card interest rate. Here’s the scam: A robocall – often from “Card Services” – says that you qualify for a special program to lower your credit card interest rate, save thousands of dollars, and pay off debts sooner. If you press a number, a representative might tell you they work for your bank or credit card company. They don’t.

If you shop online — and who doesn’t? — you might notice that some websites let you pay with bitcoins. Virtual or crypto currencies like Bitcoin can be a fast way to pay online, or in person with a mobile app. But using virtual currencies comes with risk. Their value goes up and down — sometimes sharply — depending on demand. In addition, payments made with virtual currencies aren’t reversible and don’t have the same legal protections as some traditional payment methods . Once you hit send, you can’t get your money back unless the seller agrees. That’s why it’s important to know who you’re buying from and what policies they have regarding refunds, returns, and disputes.

Recent storms and flooding plaguing the Midwest and Southeast could impact car buyers across the country. Vehicles damaged by floods in those area can be cleaned up and taken out of state for sale. You might not know a vehicle is damaged until you take a closer look or have a mechanic check it out. Here’s what to do:

You might like your financial advisor to predict the future in ways that could help you get rich. But legitimate advisors won’t promise to know what comes next – and you shouldn’t invest with anyone who guarantees you riches. It’s kind of a rule of thumb about investing: there are no guarantees, and anyone who promises you big money is likely running a scam.