Scam Alerts

Scammers use a number of clever schemes to trick people into sending them money: they might promise a job, a loan, a scholarship, or a prize. They might even promise to recover money lost to a previous scam. That’s right. Some scammers contact people who already have lost money to scam artists and offer to get the money back — for a fee. Sometimes, they claim to represent government agencies or offer to file necessary paperwork with law...

The holidays are drawing near and you're thinking about how to get to grandma's for Thanksgiving and your favorite uncle's for Christmas; money for airfare may be a bit tight. But, just like that, you get a letter that sounds like you’ve lucked out in a big way. It’s an offer for free plane tickets to practically anyplace you want to go. The company — whose name appears to be that of a well-known airline — urges you to act quickly, or you might...

If you’ve ever had a virus on your computer, you know what a nightmare it can be — a slow computer that crashes unexpectedly, your contact lists getting messages that you didn’t send, your online accounts vulnerable to hacking. Perhaps just as frustrating as a virus infecting your computer? Paying someone to get rid of a virus that isn’t there. Here’s how it happens: Scammers call and claim to be associated with a well-known tech company like...

The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has left many people asking how they can help. If you’re looking for a way to give, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, urges you to do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised — and as you intend. Urgent appeals for aid that you get in person, by phone or mail, by e-mail, on...