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Usually, when I pay with a check, I write it out and sign it, or I direct my bank to send it on my behalf. But what if a check is drawn on my account but I didn’t write it, sign it, or tell my bank to send it? It can happen if someone has your bank account number: they can use your number to create a check that takes money out of your account. Now, if you’d already agreed to the charges, there’s no problem. But what if you didn’t? That means this...

As a consumer, you expect companies to honor their promises to protect your personal information. As the nation’s consumer protection agency, so does the FTC. Today, the FTC announced it reached an agreement with Uber to settle FTC charges that Uber abandoned its promises to take reasonable steps to protect consumers’ personal information and to make sure that Uber employees only accessed consumer information for appropriate business purposes...

You’re online, ready to buy concert tickets the second they go on sale, and then … they’re sold out. Were you beaten by a ticket bot? Here’s what you need to know. What are ticket bots? They’re computer programs that quickly buy up the best seats so the tickets can be resold elsewhere for more money. The Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 makes it illegal to use computer software like ticket bots to game the ticket system for public concerts...

Consumers are reporting another government imposter scam – this time the scammers are pretending to be calling from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to reports, callers are telling people they’ve been selected to receive a $14,000 grant from NIH. To get it, though, callers tell people to pay a fee through an iTunes or Green Dot card, or by giving their bank account number. If you get a call like this from someone asking you to...

Military Consumer and @StopFraudCo will host a Twitter chat to talk about back to school issues for military families on August 10, 2017 at 1 p.m. M.T. / 3 p.m. E.T. We’ll talk about child identity theft, questions to ask when choosing a college, and tips for your college student about renting an apartment, buying a car, and online back-to-school shopping. Join in at #MilChat.

You’ve probably seen online ads with offers to let you try a product – or a service – for a very low cost, or even for free. Sometimes they’re tempting: I mean, who doesn’t want whiter teeth for a dollar plus shipping? Until the great deal turns into a rip-off. That’s what the FTC says happened in a case it announced today. The defendants sold tooth-whitening products under various names, and hired other companies to help them market the products...

On average, military families move every two or three years, 10 times more often than civilian families. While the military is known for efficient and organized moves, it can be challenging to ensure that each new home environment is safe. Follow these simple safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to keep your “Home Sweet Home!” Window Blind Cords Hidden Hazard: Check all window coverings in your new home for cords. Children...

Know someone who’s behind on their bills? Maybe debt collectors are calling for payment? Our new debt collection video can help you understand your legal rights – and may lower your stress level. In the video, you’ll see how bad debt collectors try to get you to pay up. Bad debt collectors will say anything to get you to pay – and they’ll make it feel urgent to get you to pay immediately. But there are laws to protect you. Debt collectors: Can't...

If you are planning a trip outside the US, you have probably been collecting tips on everything from great restaurants to comfortable walking shoes. Here is our contribution: when you search for information online, you may find official-looking websites that offer travel documents, information and services. But some official-looking sites are copycats — imposters — that can put your money and personal information at risk. The FTC’s i nternational...

Are you thinking about investing in precious metals? The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ( @CFTCSmartCheck) has created True Fraud Stories, a video series that tells cautionary tales for investors. In this video, a military veteran with an advanced degree in business describes his negative experience with a fraudulent silver commodity investment firm. The CFTC encourages all investors to check the registration status of their broker on...