FTC Blogs

Tidying up: Decluttering the COPPA FAQs

By: Lesley Fair | Jul 22, 2020 11:49AM

Maybe it’s the influence of that best-selling book on home organization or perhaps the silos of stuff in our makeshift home offices are becoming more noticeable. Either way, people are in a decluttering mood – and we are, too. Our recent project: updating and streamlining Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions, known as the COPPA FAQs. But not to worry. The revisions don’t raise new policy issues and our COPPA Rule review continues.

Consumer Blog

Investment coaching scams are trending

By: Rosario Méndez | Dec 22, 2020 9:09AM

You’ll make a lot of money. I’m going to show you how to do it — and using my program, I guarantee you’ll be successful. If you see that in an ad, there’s likely a scammer behind it. Just last week, the FTC announced Operation Income Illusion, a nationwide effort to shut down income scams that used false promises like this to trick people into believing they would make a lot of money if they bought one of these programs. In each case, it turned out to be, well, an illusion.

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Business Blog

New toolkit for retailers to help stop gift card scams

By: Lesley Fair | Dec 21, 2020 2:18PM

In many ways, gift cards ushered in a win-win era. Better gift-giving (and getting) for consumers and increased sales for retailers. But leave it to scammers to try to mess up a good thing. According to an FTC Data Spotlight, gift cards are now the top method of payment favored by many fraudsters. For years, the FTC has warned consumers about gift card grifters.

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Consumer Blog

New tools to fight gift card scams

By: Cristina Miranda | Dec 21, 2020 12:42PM

This holiday season (and year-round), gift cards are on scammers’ wish lists. Scammers always have a reason for you to pay them immediately with a gift card. And they often tell you which card to buy and which store to visit. That’s why the FTC is launching a new Stop Gift Card Scams campaign to work with stores and law enforcement to fight these scams. And it’s also why the FTC has taken another look at reporting data to see what’s happening lately.

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Data Spotlight

Gift cards top scammers’ wish lists

By: Emma Fletcher | Dec 21, 2020 10:34AM

Gift cards make great holiday gifts. But reports to FTC show that scammers like getting them, too. Scammers don’t ask nicely, though. They use trickery to insist on gift cards, and they ask for specific brands. Scammers prefer gift cards because they can get quick cash while staying anonymous. In fact, giving a scammer the PIN numbers off the back of a gift card is the number one way people report losing money on many of the top frauds reported to the FTC.

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Consumer Blog

And a smart fridge in a pear tree

By: Jennifer Leach | Dec 21, 2020 9:03AM

On this 12th and final day of consumer protection — just of this series, you understand, not ever — here are a few reminders as you head toward whatever holiday you celebrate (or don’t) this December. Whether you’re shopping for a fridge that reminds you that you’re out of milk (step OFF, appliances, I’ve got this) or some cozy slippers, remember:

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