Fraud Alerts

Would you donate to a cause if the fundraiser lied about how the money would be spent? Probably not. But that’s what the FTC says Kars-R-Us.com, Inc. (“Kars”) did when it collected vehicle donations on behalf of a supposed breast cancer charity.

Every day, people you know are seeing phony business opportunities, work-at-home scams, shady employment agencies, and scammy multi-level marketing schemes. Job seekers don’t have the time or resources to waste on fake opportunities, but there are some ways to spot these scams. Watch this video as FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson explains.

When disaster strikes, everyone in the community is impacted — including older adults. That’s why having a plan and knowing how to spot disaster-related scams can make a difference to anyone recovering. If you’re not sure where to begin, there are free tools to help you get started on a plan that includes fraud prevention.

Identity theft can happen to anyone, including kids in foster care. But minors typically don’t have credit reports, so they might not even realize they’ve experienced identity theft until they apply for a job, housing, or credit. Because foster youth often move more often and more people have access to their info, they’re at greater risk of identity theft. So if you’re a foster parent, a service provider, or know someone in foster care, read on for ways to help protect foster youth from identity theft.

Did someone steal your identity? Or are you looking for ways to help protect yourself from identity theft? A great place to start is freezing your credit. Here’s what to know.

If you own a business or know someone who does, you know how important a trademark is for protecting your intellectual property. Scammers do, too, and they’re impersonating the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to steal your money. Here’s how the scam works.

A voicemail from an unknown caller reminding you about a $52,000 loan that you didn’t apply for can throw you off balance. Which explains why scammers send them — hoping you’ll respond first and think later. You might already know how to spot phone scams, but in case you need a refresher, here’s how to spot this one.

The US government is reissuing warnings of a phantom hacker scam that has resulted in a sharp uptick in older adults losing significant amounts of money. From 2020 to 2024, the number of older adults who reported losing $10,000 or more to these scams increased more than fourfold, while the number of reports increased almost sevenfold. While these scams can affect anyone of any age, older individuals have reported harrowing losses to these crimes, with some losing their life savings.

Did you hear about an investment opportunity from a friend or someone in a group or community you’re a part of? Before you hand over any money, make sure you’re not getting into an investment scam. Here’s how.

See an eye-catching “deal” on your social for a brand-name product at a big discount? Don’t click — it could be a scam. Here’s what to know.