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If you’ve created a product or service you’re eager to sell, it makes sense to get patent or trademark protection. But some information that looks official might really just a scam to get your money. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the FTC want you to know that there are companies pretending to be the USPTO or a partner of the USPTO. They’re tricking patent and trademark holders into paying them “fees” for services, but they’re...

Who doesn’t like to save money? Those big colorful “going out of business” sale signs can draw you in, like a moth to a flame. Before you fork over any cash, make sure you understand the real deal. Otherwise, you might get burned. Here are a few things to think about. How can you tell if you’re getting a good deal? Comparison shopping is your best bet. Check to see if the same, or similar, products are sold elsewhere for less. If you’re at the...

Scammers are creative, cunning and cruel — and they often mix in a little truth to spice up their big lies. This scheme shows just how low they can go. Government imposters claiming to be with the FTC, or another agency like the fictitious “Consumer Protection Agency,” are calling to inform people they have won a huge sweepstakes from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a well-known charity for very sick children. To get the money, the callers say, the...

As part of its settlement with DeVry University , starting today, the FTC will mail 173,000 refund checks worth more than $49 million to some students who attended the school between 2008 and 2015. Checks will expire 60 days after they were mailed. The FTC used DeVry’s records to identify the people who were eligible for refunds. To get a refund, a person must meet all four of these eligibility criteria: enrolled for the first time in a bachelor...

July is Month of the Military Consumer. It’s a great time to remind servicemembers, veterans, and their families of the helpful tips you can find at Military.Consumer.gov. It’s your tool for financial readiness. Because when you know how to manage your money — and how to spot a rip-off — you’re more financially solid and mission-ready. Here’s our new video where Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen kicks off Month of the Military Consumer...

I’m the proud daughter of a Navy veteran, and attended school on two military bases from elementary through high school. Looking back – although I may not have fully understood the consequences at the time – I see how various financial issues and scams affected the lives of my military friends and their families. That’s why I take consumer protection for servicemembers, veterans and their families seriously. For me, it’s personal. It’s also a top...

Did you ever apply for credit and were refused? There may be something on your credit report that’s holding you back. But it might not all be accurate. Checking your credit report at least once a year helps you know what’s there – and keeps you on track for a healthier financial future. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The law entitles...

It’s National Homeownership Month, and the FTC and the National Association of Realtors® want to remind you that scammers sometimes use emails to rob home buyers of their closing costs and personal information. Here’s how the scam works: hackers break into the email accounts of buyers or real estate professionals to get information about upcoming real estate transactions. The hacker then sends an email to the buyer, posing as the real estate...

Moving can be daunting, but for millions of Americans, the biggest relocation challenge might be related to their jobs: getting a professional license in a new state. The obstacles aren’t just paperwork and fees. Licensing requirements often vary from state to state so you might have to take additional courses or get specialized on-the-job experience – even if you’ve been working in the same profession for years. Military spouses face these...

The FTC has been cracking down on deceptive tech support operations that call or send pop-ups to make people think their computers are infected with viruses. Scammers ask for access to computers, then charge people hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs. In Operation Tech Trap, the FTC and its partners announced 16 actions against deceptive operations, and the FTC temporarily halted the operations of several defendants. Recently, a woman who...