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Consumer Information Blog - for 2016-January

Scammers fake Social Security email

January 15, 2016
by
Amy Hebert
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

The subject line says “Get Protected,” and the email talks about new features from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that can help taxpayers monitor their credit reports, and know about unauthorized use of their Social Security number. It even cites the IRS and the official-sounding “S.A.F.E Act 2015.”

It sounds real, but it’s all made-up. It’s a phishing email to get you to click on a scammer’s link.

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22 comments
Blog Topics: 
Privacy, Identity & Online Security

Medicare imposters want to steal your money. Don’t let them.

January 12, 2016
by
Aditi Jhaveri
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Pop quiz: If someone calls you asking for your bank account number, should you give it to them?

Answer: Never. Hang up — it’s a scam.

We’ve heard about different kinds of imposter scams on the rise. In one scenario, scammers call, pretending to work for Medicare. They say they need to verify your bank account number — and it might sound convincing. In truth, it’s a trick to steal your money.

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21 comments
Blog Topics: 
Money & Credit, Privacy, Identity & Online Security

Fraud affects every community: debt collection

January 7, 2016
by
Jennifer Leach
Assistant Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education

There’s not much doubt that fraud can happen anywhere. To anyone. That’s the whole idea behind the FTC’s Every Community Initiative: fraud affects every community, and the FTC works to stop fraud wherever it happens. When we look at all the reports we get from consumers in communities across the country, these scams start to feel like something we face together, something we can imagine happening to us, or someone we care about. And when we share those stories, it really hits home.

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8 comments
Blog Topics: 
Money & Credit

Four dishonest debt collectors down…

January 7, 2016
by
Chris Koegel
Assistant Director, Division of Financial Practices, FTC

Even though it’s a new year, some things remain the same. Illegal debt collection is still a big problem – which means it’s a big deal here at the FTC. We’ve made some progress: you might remember the 115 cases we announced in November, working with more than 70 law enforcement partners. That was big, but we’re not done yet.

Today, we’re announcing four cases against debt collectors who did pretty much everything wrong – and the release of one video with the story of a veteran who did pretty much everything right.

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28 comments
Blog Topics: 
Money & Credit

How to stay high and dry against storm-chasing scams

January 6, 2016
by
Colleen Tressler
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Severe weather and historic flooding have left people in many parts of the U.S. battling to save lives, homes and businesses. The last thing anyone needs are scam artists who prey on the misfortune of others. Common natural disaster scams include debris removal and clean-up, shoddy repairs and construction, charity fraud, and imposter scams.

Here are some ways to arm yourself against scammers who use weather emergencies to cheat people.

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8 comments
Blog Topics: 
Money & Credit

“Brain training” with Lumosity — does it really work?

January 5, 2016
by
Aditi Jhaveri
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Imagine if you could improve your memory, attention, and problem solving skills in all aspects of your life — just by playing some simple “brain training” games online or on an app. Games that could help prevent age-related memory decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Games that could help you at work, school, or with everyday tasks — like remembering where you left your keys, or quickly recalling the name of a person you just met.

That’s just what Lumosity claimed its games could do, based on “proven neuroscience research.” But the FTC charged that there isn’t solid science showing that Lumosity’s “brain training” games work the way they say they would.

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81 comments
Blog Topics: 
Health & Fitness

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