Getting your first paycheck is a big deal. But it also can be a surprise when you see your employer took out money for different taxes and benefits. Why does that happen? And is there anything you can do about it?

Read the new article about Your Paycheck at consumer.gov. It tells you what you need to know, in a plain and simple style.

If you’re a scholar or scientist, you know the value of being published in an academic journal.  Unfortunately, some dishonest publishers also understand this — and have used it to profit from rather than promote legitimate advancements in research and academia.

In its lawsuit against OMICS Group — which operates hundreds of online journals in a variety of fields — the FTC says the company bombards people with emails soliciting articles, misrepresents the reputation of its publications, and doesn’t disclose that authors have to pay substantial fees — ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars — to be published.

Have you seen ads promising easy money if you shrink-wrap your car — with ads for brands like Monster Energy, Red Bull, or Pepsi? The “company” behind the ads says all you have to do is deposit a check, use part of it to pay a specified shrink-wrap vendor, and drive around like you normally would.

But don’t jump onto the bandwagon. It’s only easy money for the scammer who placed the ads.

When the FTC settles with – or sues – a company, we’re often trying to stop illegal behavior, return lost money to people as often as we can, and generally make unfair things fair and deceptive things true. Today’s historic settlement with Herbalife goes one better: