COVID-19 scams targeting college students

May 28, 2020

Ari Lazarus, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Hey college students: even though you’re likely far from campus, scammers are still trying to find you. Maybe you or your friends have gotten an email claiming to be from the “Financial Department” of your university. The email tells you to click on a link to get a message about your COVID-19...

This “game” is a chain letter scam

May 22, 2020

Seena Gressin, Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

Are you tempted to play “The Circle Game,” join a “Blessing Loom,” or jump on a “Money Board”? These are some of the names for an online scam that’s making the rounds at a time when millions of people are out of work and scraping for cash. It promises a big return for a modest investment. Don’t...

Military Data Spotlight: Identity theft and servicemembers

May 20, 2020

Emma Fletcher, Division of Consumer Response and Operations

Every year, thousands of servicemembers report to us about their consumer experiences. Those reports are the focus of the FTC’s Data Spotlight , Identity theft causing outsized harm to our troops . From an analysis of the data, we can see that servicemembers often face consumer challenges that...

Finding a furry friend in the era of COVID-19

May 20, 2020

Namukolo Kasumpa, International Fellow, Division of Consumer & Business Education

If you’ve been thinking about adding a pet to your family, now may be a good time. In addition to pets offering unconditional love, companionship, and amusement, studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets has health benefits. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease...

COVID-19 contact tracing text message scams

May 19, 2020

Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about contact tracing . It’s the process of identifying people who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, instructing them to quarantine and monitoring their symptoms daily. Contact tracers are usually hired by a state’s department...

Did a nursing home or assisted living facility take your stimulus check?

May 15, 2020

Lois Greisman, Elder Justice Coordinator, FTC

Do you or a loved one live in a nursing home or assisted living facility ? Are you (or they) on Medicaid? If you said “yes” to both, please read on and prepare to get mad. We’ve been hearing that some facilities are trying to take the stimulus payments intended for their residents on Medicaid. Then...

Fighting Coronavirus scams: Taking stock

May 08, 2020

Andrew Smith, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the FTC has released dozens of warning letters against people trying to make an illegal buck off the Coronavirus. More than a month in, it seem s like a good time to look back at what’s happened. If you follow this blog, you’ll know these have been busy...

Coronavirus and your mortgage

May 05, 2020

Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education

Because of the Coronavirus, many people are facing financial challenges, especially paying their mortgage. If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you could lose your home to foreclosure. Federal lenders and some private lenders are offering borrowers temporary help, like stopping or...

Economic Impact Payments: May 5 deadline for some SSI and VA beneficiaries with kids

April 29, 2020

Seena Gressin, Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

Are you an SSI or VA beneficiary? If you didn’t file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and have dependent children, you must register with the IRS by noon Eastern Time on May 5 to get an additional $500 economic impact payment for dependents — or else you’ll have to wait until you file your 2020 tax...

New funding for Coronavirus SBA loans attracts scammers

April 28, 2020

Rosario Mendez, Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

If you’re a business owner, you may be planning to apply for a loan through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. These programs recently got hundreds of billions of dollars in new funding. But, while you’re focused on getting a loan, scammers...

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