FTC Consumer Blog

By BCP Staff Met someone new online…but you still haven’t met in person? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to make sure you know how to recognize a romance scam.Romance scams can happen to anyone. And with the help of AI and other tech, they might not be so easy to spot. AI or not, here are some signs you’re dealing with a scammer: Read more >

By BCP Staff If a debt collector calls, do you know what to do? You have rights. Debt collectors can’t harass, lie, or treat you unfairly — even if you owe the debt. Before you pay, confirm a debt is actually yours — not someone else’s or a scam to get your money. Consider talking to the collector at least once to find out, even if you don’t think you owe the money. To help you avoid a scam, here’s what to do next. Read more >

By BCP Staff For many, the beginning of the year is often a time for taking stock and planning for the year to come. If you’re looking for ways to strengthen your financing footing in the new year, the FTC’s consumer.gov has tools that can help. Read more >

By BCP Staff February ramping up can only mean one thing: National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is right around the corner. And this year, NCPW is March 1 – 7, 2026. Here are some ways to start planning: Read more >

By BCP Staff If you’re one of the many millions of people eligible for a refund from the FTC’s settlement with Amazon, you might already have gotten a check for up to $51. If you got it and deposited or cashed it, you’re all set. You might also have gotten an email or postcard this month with instructions on how to submit a claim. But based on what we’re hearing from consumers, some people have questions about Amazon’s refund process and their eligibility, whether they need to file a claim, and how to do it. If that’s you, let’s get you to some answers. Read more >

By BCP Staff Your phone rings and what the caller says next sends you into a panic. They claim there’s fraud on your credit card, someone hacked your bank account, you owe a tax debt, or your benefits will end today. Your adrenaline is pumping, and your mind races a hundred miles an hour. They sense this—and they say they can help. Should you trust them? No. Read more >

By BCP Staff It’s going to take time to recover from the winter storm that affected a large part of the country and left hundreds of thousands without power. You can be sure that, after a big storm like this one, utility and other scammers aren’t far behind. Read more >

By BCP Staff Cybercriminals target companies big and small. Today is Data Privacy Day — a great opportunity to take a look at how you keep your business and customer data protected. Get started with the FTC’s updated resources at ftc.gov/cybersecurity. Read more >

By BCP Staff While the gift-giving holidays are over, scammers still want gift card money. Some scammers might even reach out by pretending to be your boss and asking you to buy gift cards for them. But it’s a scam. Here’s how to spot and avoid it. Read more >

By BCP Staff Identity theft is one of the most-reported problems to the FTC every year. So, chances are, it’s affected you or someone you know. That’s why the FTC and its partners dedicate a week to raising awareness and organizing events to help everyone protect and recover from identity theft. Read more >