2025 Archive Alerts

• December 29, 2025

Looking to fix your credit? An illegal credit repair scam isn’t the answer

Need better credit to do things like get a loan, buy a car, or rent an apartment? There are things you can do, but don’t believe a credit repair company that promises to remove accurate and up-to-date information. Here’s how to know if you’re dealing with a scammy credit repair company.

• November 25, 2025

How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season

If you’re looking to save time by avoiding the crowds and doing some holiday shopping online, know that scammers camp out online all year long. So if you’re planning to shop online for holiday gifts, how can you avoid accidentally running into a scam? Here are some ways to protect yourself during the holidays and year-round.

• November 18, 2025

Use this action plan to avoid scams

Scammers tell lots of different stories to try to get your money or personal information. Scammers tell you all these things to try to get you to panic. They want you to hurry and do what they say before you have time to think, check out their story, or reach out to someone who might intervene. That’s where the FTC’s new tool, How I’ll Avoid a Scam: My Action Plan, can help. See how this action plan can help.

• September 30, 2025

When sharing your info online leads to unwanted and unlawful telemarketing calls

Do you get a lot of calls trying to sell you products or services you never asked for? Sometimes telemarketing calls are random. Other times, companies trick you into sharing your information so they can sell it to the telemarketers that call you without your permission. So, how can you cut down on the number of unwanted telemarketing calls you get? Learn more about minimizing unwanted telemarketing calls and avoiding scams.

• September 10, 2025

Get a credit freeze to stop identity thieves

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.

• August 7, 2025

Business and government impersonators go after older adults’ life savings

Scammers posing as government agencies or well-known businesses are increasingly going after retirees’ life savings. Then they trick older adults into giving them tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Learn how you can protect yourself.

• July 21, 2025

That text about an overdue traffic ticket is probably a scam

Scammers are pretending to be the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from states all over the country, insisting that you pay for an “overdue traffic ticket” and threatening to suspend your driving privileges if you don’t. Here’s how the scam works.

• June 12, 2025

Did a new online friend ask for money? Odds are it’s a scam

Social media can be a great way to connect with new friends, but it’s a different story when someone approaches you to be friends and then asks for money. That’s no friend — that’s a scammer. Learn more about what to do If you’re ever in a situation like this.

• May 5, 2025

Getting calls from a debt collector? You have rights

You get a call out of the blue. The caller insists you owe money and says you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay immediately. You have no idea what she’s talking about. What do you do? Learn more about what to do when it comes to debt collectors.

• April 28, 2025

Discounted phone, TV, or internet services if you pay with a gift card? No, it’s a scam

Have you gotten a robocall about a discount on phone, TV, or internet services? Scammers are pretending to be businesses and making robocalls about “discounted services” if you pay with a gift card. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.

• April 1, 2025

Protect yourself (and your money) from scammers this Financial Literacy Month

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. Check out the free resources at consumer.gov to help manage your money while protecting it from scammers.

• March 10, 2025

Top scams of 2024

Did you or someone you know report a scam to the FTC in 2024? Those reports help the FTC bring enforcement cases and educate people about scams. Learn more about the top 2024 scams.

• February 20, 2025

Did someone use your SSN to file taxes? Here’s what to do

If you’re filing your taxes online this year, watch for signs of tax identity theft, like someone using your Social Security number (SSN) to file and claim a tax refund. Learn to protect yourself while filing online and what to do if someone steals your tax refund.

• January 24, 2025

Dealing with spam texts, emails, and junk mail

If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back. Here’s how to cut down on spam texts and emails.