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Consumer Alert

Back brace scams target people on Medicare

Lisa Lake
Scammers have been targeting Medicare recipients with a scheme to get “free or low-cost” back and knee braces. They’re calling, running television ads, and mailing letters to get people to give their
Consumer Alert

Halloween know-how: Cosmetic contacts require an Rx

Colleen Tressler
Dressing up for Halloween can be fun. Revelers often use make-up, wigs and cosmetic contact lenses to complete their look. Cosmetic contacts lenses – also known as costume or decorative contact lenses
Consumer Alert

SIM Swap Scams: How to Protect Yourself

Alvaro Puig
Consumer Alert: Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks. If you have an older cell phone, you may not be able to call or text. The FCC has advice about what to do . If your cell phone is
Consumer Alert

Scams and older consumers: Looking at the data

Lesley Fair
The FTC just sent a report to Congress called Protecting Older Consumers 2018-2019 . The report suggests steps to take to help protect older consumers from fraud. But the evidence also shows a thing
Consumer Alert

Stalking apps: Retina-X settles charges

Lisa Weintraub Schifferle
Did you know people can monitor you through your phone? The FTC’s settlement with Retina-X Studios, LLC marks the agency’s first case against “stalking apps” or “stalkerware” – spyware that secretly
Consumer Alert

Fake followers: A social media hoax

Ari Lazarus
Influencers, celebrities and other people with strong online followings can be, well, influential. When considering whether you want to buy something or use a service – especially when you’re buying
Consumer Alert

Cosmetic company wrote fake reviews

Cristina Miranda
Do you rely on product reviews to decide if something is good enough to try or buy? Real product reviews are great at helping us make better informed decisions. But you might wonder if some of these
Consumer Alert

Charity fraud awareness, here and abroad

Rosario Méndez
Today is the start of International Charity Fraud Awareness Week (ICFAW), a coordinated international effort to help charities and donors avoid charity fraud. The FTC joins state charities regulators
Consumer Alert

What Do Not Call complaints are telling us

Amy Hebert
Have you gotten a call from an imposter, maybe someone pretending to be with the Social Security Administration, IRS, or a tech support company, this year? If so, you’re not alone. Calls from
Consumer Alert

Aloe, goodbye: company’s claims lacked proof

Bridget Small
You may have heard of using aloe vera for sunburn relief. A Florida company claimed its aloe products would relieve joint and muscle pain, diabetes, acid reflux and more — and that health studies
Consumer Alert

Renting a car: Factoring in the fees

Colleen Tressler
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country road trip, a rental car may be in your future. Comparing prices online can save you a bundle, but make sure you compare the total cost —
Consumer Alert

Zurixx’s real estate investment scheme

Cristina Miranda
These days, it seems like everyone wants to make money by flipping houses. There are companies out there promising to tell you how, but not all those promises are real. The most recent example is
Consumer Alert

FTC Refunds: The real deal or not?

Nicole Christ
Sometimes the FTC is able to return money to people who were ripped off in a con artist’s scheme. But scammers try to cause confusion and take advantage at every step. If you lost money in a scam, you
Consumer Alert

FTC: AdvoCare business model was pyramid scheme

Seena Gressin
Are you thinking about joining a multi-level marketing business to earn extra money? Before investing your hard-earned cash, make sure you’re not dealing with a pyramid scheme – a scam that can cost
Consumer Alert

Millennials and fraud: What’s the story?

Lisa Weintraub Schifferle
Lots of people fall for scams. Is it any different for Millennials? That’s what the FTC explores in its new Data Spotlight, Not what you think: Millennials and fraud . According to the Data Spotlight
Consumer Alert

Self-defense against scams

Bridget Small
To everyone who hangs up on unwanted calls, learns about the latest scams, and checks with friends about suspicious offers: good news! People who did all those things were less likely to lose money to
Consumer Alert

Video games, loot boxes, and your money

Amy Hebert
Play video games, or have kids who do? For most of us, that’s a yes, according to a recent industry survey. It also means you might have heard of loot boxes. Loot boxes are the containers you come
Consumer Alert

Notarios are no help with immigration

Kati Daffan
Now and then, it’s helpful to remind ourselves of things we already know: Nobody legit will ever demand payment with a gift card. Dark chocolate is superior to milk chocolate. And notarios do not give
Consumer Alert

Using Match.com? Read this

Rosario Méndez
Online dating sites are a common way people seek romance. But what if, instead of a potential match, you find a scammer? Today, t he FTC announced a lawsuit against Match.com, challenging several of
Consumer Alert

That attorney’s ad might be bad for your health

Colleen Tressler
You see the ads on TV, hear them on the radio, or read them in print and online: attorneys telling you about the dangers of certain prescription drugs. Many of these ads open with “medical alert,”