Report Gift Cards Used in a Scam (FTC Video Guide)
An FTC video on the three most common gift card scam stories and what to do if you already paid. Plus our step-by-step guide to reporting it fast.
How Scammers Tell You to Pay (FTC Video Guide)
An FTC video on the payment methods scammers demand, like wire transfers and gift cards, and why. Plus a plain-language guide to stopping a payment scam.
How to Spot a Scam: The Warning Signs (FTC Video Guide)
A short, wordless FTC video on the warning signs of a scam, plus a plain-language guide to the four signs almost every scam shares and what to do next.
Tech Support Scams: How They Work and How to Stop Them
A pop-up, call, search ad, or fake renewal email says your computer has a problem and you must pay for a fix. Here are the four ways tech support scams start, the warning signs, and exactly what to do if you already let them in or paid.
How to Get the Real Price at a Car Dealership
The advertised price and the contract price should match, apart from government charges. Here is how to get the out-the-door price in writing, compare financing, say no to add-ons, and read the contract before you sign.
Hidden Fees: How to Spot Charges You Never Agreed To
Hidden fees start small, show up months later, or appear only at checkout. Here is where they hide on bills, tickets, hotels, and subscriptions, a five-minute monthly check, and how to dispute a charge you never agreed to.
Credit Repair Scams: Red Flags, Your Rights, and What You Can Do for Free
No company can legally charge you before it fixes your credit, and no one can remove accurate negative information. Here are the red flags of a credit repair scam and how to fix real errors yourself for free.
Imposter Scams: How to Spot Someone Pretending to Be an Agency or a Company You Trust
Imposter scams start with a call, text, email, or ad that looks official, then push you to pay fast in a way that is hard to undo. Here are the warning signs, a family rule, and what to do if you already paid.
Refund, Settlement, and Recovery Scams: Never Pay to Get Your Money
A real refund or settlement payment never requires a fee, a gift card, or your bank password. Here is how real refunds work, the red flags of a fake one, and the recovery scam that targets people who already lost money.
Gift Cards Are Only for Gifts
If someone tells you to buy a gift card to pay a tax, a fine, or a family emergency, that is a scam. Gift cards are for gifts, not payments.
