This tax season, join a webinar, protect your data
Tax season has just begun, but tax identity thieves already are posting their “gone phishin’” signs: fake emails designed to trick companies into handing over their employees’ personal information. To help small businesses avoid the hook, the FTC and the IRS are hosting a free Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week webinar on Wednesday, February 1, […]
Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week has an event for you
Today we’re kicking off Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. Tax identity theft happens when a scammer files a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number (SSN) and claims your refund. It also happens when someone uses your SSN to earn wages, and sticks you with the tax bill. Source: FTC Scam Alert Feed Tax […]
A government program that pays your bills?
Have you heard about a government program that will pay your monthly bills for an up-front payment or processing fee? Here’s a short version of the rest of this post: It’s a scam. Don’t do it. We’ve heard that this scam is happening in some African-American church communities: people approach church-goers with this so-called deal. […]
The FTC’s sobering truth about Breathometer
Whether you’re gathering with friends for Friday night happy hour or a Super Bowl party to watch the big game, it’s important to get home safely. So wouldn’t it be great if you could transform your smartphone into a breathalyzer to make sure you were safe to drive? Well, Breathometer, Inc., claimed its breathalyzer devices […]
Uber-exaggerated claims result in $20 million settlement
When you’re on the hunt for income, the last thing you want is to be misled about the earnings and benefits that a business opportunity offers. Today, the FTC announced that Uber agreed to a $20 million settlement of the FTC’s charges that the company made false or unsupported claims regarding its drivers’ likely income […]
Looking back at privacy in 2016, and on to the future
Protecting consumers’ privacy and personal data has long been a priority at the FTC. Over the years, we’ve helped millions of identity theft victims recover from that crime. We created the National Do Not Call Registry to limit unwanted telemarketing, and we continue to fight illegal robocalls. And we’ve brought more than sixty cases against […]
Western Union settlement: $586 million in refunds
According to the FTC, Western Union has known for years that scammers were using its system to commit significant fraud. Even when faced with clear evidence that many of its agents were committing fraud, Western Union kept taking people’s money. Probably billions in fraud-related transfers, sent since January 2004. But today, in a global settlement […]
The Problem With the ‘New Year, New You’ Mindset
Article by Megan Nicole O’Neal It’s almost December 31st. Do you have your resolutions ready? Related: 4 New Year’s Resolutions You Should Make (and Keep) to Guarantee Your Success The question is about as hard to dodge as the “So, are you dating anyone?” questions you hear at nearly every family function. […]
Credit Bureau Center’s Online Rental Scam
Renting an apartment online? First, let me tell you about the FTC’s case against Credit Bureau Center, LLC – a company that posted fake online rentals to lure people to their credit monitoring sites. Source: FTC Scam Alert Feed Credit Bureau Center’s Online Rental Scam
Make it a season of unhappy returns for tax ID thieves
Tax identity thieves and IRS imposters are ready for tax season, whether you are or not. Find out how to protect yourself, and what to do if someone you know becomes a victim, during Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, January 30 through February 3. Source: FTC Scam Alert Feed Make it a season of unhappy […]