Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine sophisticated cyber technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or reveal personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never changes: they follow the headlines — and the money.
Stay a step ahead with the latest info and practical tips from the nation’s consumer protection agency – the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.
A few recent FTC scam alerts include:
- Income scams – Scams that promise you can make money selling high-end products or brand-name merchandise. If the pitch sounds familiar, that’s because the story is based on facts from a recent FTC lawsuit against a company that targeted Spanish speakers nationwide.
- Abusive debt collectors – Pressuring people to pay debts they don’t owe.
- High school diploma or a college degree online scam – The FTC announced a case Sept. 19 against several companies that sold fake high school diplomas online. The companies claimed you could become a high school graduate and earn an “official” diploma by paying $200 to $300 in fees and taking their online multiple-choice test.
- Health care scams – Before you sign up and pay any money for health insurance or discount plans, check out all the available options — and any claims about coverage. Some people who may phone you promoting a way for you to save could be pitching a scam. On Sept. 12, the FTC announced charges against a company and one of its marketers for tricking people who were looking for affordable health insurance into buying worthless medical discount cards.
If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.