Consumer Alerts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skimmers are illegal card readers attached to payment terminals — like gas pumps — that grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe without your knowledge. Criminals sell the stolen data or

Here at the FTC, we’re known for getting things done on behalf of regular people. Unfortunately, sometimes scammers try to take advantage of our good reputation. The latest example: Some people have

Before you head to the eye doctor, take 30 seconds to watch a new video from the FTC about your eyewear prescription rights. Federal law requires your eye doctor to give you your contact lens

You might have seen ads for companies that say they can reduce your debt – sometimes for cents on the dollar. All you have to do is pay them. But these offers are not always what they seem. Watch this

Our new fotonovela, Talking about Scams, tells the story of Eva and her husband, Pablo, who learn how talking about a scam can help someone avoid falling for a scam. As the story illustrates, if you

Identity theft can happen to anyone. I’m a fraud investigator, and I’d like to tell you about my identity theft. Knowing how to respond will help you if you ever have to recover your identity. My

Score one for people on the Do Not Call list. It’s been eight years of tenacious litigation by the Department of Justice, the FTC, and the Attorneys General of California, Illinois, North Carolina

Over the years, lots of rip-offs have been built around exotic “investment” strategies that were pitched as simple. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading

On June 8 , @MilConsumer and @StopFraudCo (the Stop Fraud campaign of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office) will host a chat to discuss how to avoid travel and vacation scams. The chat starts at 3

When shopping for a big-ticket item, you probably do some research. Whether talking to friends, perusing a store, or checking online reviews, you want to get the most for your money. You might even