Fraud & Consumer Protection
Password Managers: The Basics of Safer Logins
CISA says strong passwords are long, random, and unique, which is only realistic with a password manager. Here is how…
The Do Not Call Registry: What It Stops and Does Not
The Do Not Call Registry is free and never expires, but it only stops law-abiding telemarketers. Here is what it…
Your Free Annual Credit Reports: How to Get Them
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only federally authorized source for free credit reports, now available weekly. Here is how to get and…
Freezing Your Credit at All Three Bureaus, Free
A security freeze blocks new-account fraud, costs nothing by federal law, and takes about 15 minutes to set up at…
Opting Out of Pre-Approved Credit Offers
One free phone call or website visit stops most pre-approved credit card and insurance offers for five years, and a…
Job-Offer Scams That Ask for Your Bank Login
Fake employers ask for bank logins, send bogus checks for equipment, and turn job seekers into money mules. Here is…
QR-Code Scams: The Sticker Over the Real One
Scammers paste fake QR codes over real ones on meters and menus and slip them into texts. The FTC explains…
Utility Shutoff Scams: The Pay-Now Threat
Callers claiming your power will be cut within the hour unless you pay instantly are running a script. Real utilities…
IRS Impersonation Calls: What the Real IRS Never Does
The real IRS almost always writes first and never demands gift cards or threatens arrest. Here is how to tell…
The Gift-Card Payment Demand Is Always a Scam
No government agency, utility, or real business takes payment in gift cards. The FTC says that demand is the single…