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T he SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help military personnel make more informed savings and investing decisions and avoid common scams. Below is a list of ten suggestions that may help military personnel – and any investor – make better investments and avoid fraud.

According to a recent survey, half of Americans dread holiday shopping. Whether you love or hate it, we’ll be in the thick of the season before you know it. Doing some advance planning can take the edge off that dread. If you’d like some tips on making the most of holiday shopping, join us for a Twitter chat with the Department of Defense's Military One Source, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Military Saves on Thursday, November 6 at 2:00pm, Eastern time.

You want to buy a car and need financing, but your credit isn’t so great. Most dealerships have a Finance and Insurance (F&I) Department that will tell you about their financing options. To get the process started, the F&I Department will ask you to complete a credit application, which includes your monthly income and information on current credit accounts, including debt you owe.

You want the best for your baby. So when you see an ad for formula that claims to help reduce the risk of your child developing allergies, you might be willing to give it a try. Well, hang on to your wallet. In its ads for Gerber Good Start Gentle, the company states, “ You want your baby to have your smile, your eyes… not your allergies. Gerber Good Start Gentle [is] easy to digest and may also provide protective benefits for your baby.” Does that mean that by using Good Start Gentle you can reduce the risk that your baby will develop the same allergies you may suffer from? Not quite, says the FTC.

“Unlimited data” sounds great, right? Browse the Internet, stream videos, use GPS, even make video calls – all to your heart’s content. But what if you bought an unlimited data plan and then weren’t able to do all those things? That’s what happened to some AT&T customers. From 2007 until 2010, AT&T offered unlimited data plans for smartphones. Even after it stopped offering unlimited data, AT&T allowed customers who already had unlimited plans to renew them.

Shopping for health insurance online? Before making your final purchase – read on. Health insurance scams have been preying on vulnerable consumers through websites selling medical discount plans.

How low can scammers go? As low as stealing from older consumers to line their own pockets. The FTC says some scammers claimed to be calling on behalf of the government to verify information for a new Medicare card or Medicare-related package. In fact, it was a ruse to get people’s bank account information to make unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts.

You just bought the latest smartphone. You loaded all your favorite apps — online banking, GPS, even an app to track your health. But now your phone is full of information about you — how much money you have, where you are and whether you’ve gained a little weight. Your information can cause problems if it’s in the wrong hands. Want to protect it? These tips are for you:

Happy October! Along with fall foliage, sweater weather, and shorter days, you’ve probably noticed Halloween-themed candy and décor lining store shelves. While the start of October may remind us that the spookiest day of the year is just around the corner, it also kicks off National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). National Cyber Security Awareness Month reminds everyone to practice safe online habits — not just this month, but throughout the year.

Would you be willing to exercise 3 minutes a day to get fit? It’s a compelling proposition. Unfortunately, in the case of the ab GLIDER, lost pounds, body inches, or clothing sizes weren’t just an easy glide away. Today the FTC announced that ICON Health and Fitness has agreed to pay $3 million to settle charges it made unproven claims about its ab GLIDER, violating a previous order related to other unproven exercise equipment claims.