FTC Consumer Blog

By BCP Staff Online search results can offer significant benefits to consumers, helping people find what they’re looking for. But online search results are also used by scammers to steer you in the wrong direction. Read more >

By BCP staff Have you ever paid for something and later found out you could have gotten it for free? It might make you wish someone had told you it was free — before you paid. That’s what a lot of people have reported to the FTC about companies charging them hundreds of dollars to get their Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. But there’s no reason to pay anyone for your EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free. Read more >

By BCP Staff All year long, scammers are looking for ways to steal your hard-earned money. FTC data shows people reported losing $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, which is up $2.5 billion from 2023. April is Financial Literacy Month: a great time to check out the free resources at consumer.gov to help manage your money while protecting it from scammers. Read more >

By BCP Staff You’re not the only one getting scammy text messages about unpaid toll charges or issues with your Amazon account. Chances are your tweens and teens with phones are getting them, too. Sure, you can tell your kids to delete and never respond to unexpected texts. But if you want them to understand why, the FTC can help you make a game plan. Read more >

By BCP Staff Using old tactics and new twists, scammers are impersonating government agencies, including the FTC, to try to steal people’s personal information and money. The FTC is committed to combatting these imposter scams, and there’s encouraging news these efforts are making a difference to American consumers. Read more >

By BCP Staff Scammers sometimes make you think you’ve hit a stroke of good luck. But if your million-dollar cash prize letter comes with instructions to pay a small fee — maybe for taxes, reporting, or handling — it’s not luck. It’s a scam. If you pay, you’ll lose your money and find out there’s no prize. Can you spot a prize scam? Read more >

By BCP Staff Though the details might change, scams usually have some things in common. And knowing what they are can help you recognize — and then avoid — scams that come your way. Read more >

By BCP Staff Did you or someone you know report a scam to the FTC in 2024? Thank you! Those reports help the FTC bring enforcement cases and educate people about scams. Let’s jump into the top 2024 scams. Read more >

By BCP Staff If you’ve been summoned for jury duty, you know there are serious consequences for missing it — like fines, court appointments, or even jail time. Scammers know this too, and they’re calling and emailing to scare you into thinking you’ve missed jury duty and need to pay. It’s a scam. Learn how the scam works so you can avoid it. Read more >

By BCP Staff Today marks the start of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a time of year when the FTC and its local, state, and federal partners focus on empowering consumers with free consumer protection resources. Experience says that one of the best ways to avoid a scam is to talk about it, so read on for ideas on how to start that conversation. Read more >