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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...

When you read an article on an investment research website, be aware that it may not be objective and independent. The SEC recently charged 27 parties – including public companies, firms, and writers – with fraud for generating articles that promoted certain stocks. Even if articles on an investment research website appear to be an unbiased source of information or provide commentary on multiple stocks, they may be part of an undisclosed paid...

Ever bought a dietary supplement or other health-related product that didn’t work as promised? Maybe you had side effects, or the claims just seemed unbelievable. Know this: the government holds companies accountable for making baseless claims about products marketed as dietary supplements. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have enforcement programs to protect consumers from false and misleading claims...

When you want to know what’s going on with a group, you go directly to the source, right? That’s exactly what the FTC did last week when it held a Military Consumer Financial Workshop in San Antonio, Texas. The day’s purpose was to take a look at the financial issues and scams that can affect military consumers – active duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families. The day was spent talking with military consumer advocates, the Department of...