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January 17, 2023
Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster
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January 3, 2023
Want to Buy Now but Pay Later? Read this first!
Some businesses offer “buy now, pay later” plans, which let you get your purchase right away and pay for it over a few weeks or months, sometimes without paying interest. Here’s what to know before you decide if a buy now, pay later plan is right for you now — and later.
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December 14, 2022
What to do if Your Online Order Never Arrives
We’ve all been there. During the holidays you order something online and anxiously await its arrival. But then your package doesn’t come when the seller said it would. And worse, you hear nothing. Your happy anticipation is turning to anger and frustration. So now what?
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December 6, 2022
'Tis the Season to Avoid Holiday Gift Card Scams
Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?
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November 9, 2022
Charity scams for veterans tug at heart strings and grab for wallets
Want to help charities that support servicemembers and veterans? Around Veterans Day, charity scammers seek to take advantage of your generosity. They contact you about fake veteran and military causes, tugging at your heart strings — and grabbing for your wallet. A little research will help you spot these charity scams and make sure your donations count.
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November 4, 2022
Getting In and Out of Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions
You’ve probably seen ads online, on TV, or on social media for subscription offers. They could be for anything from beauty creams and dietary supplements to snacks and magazines. Some say you can try the subscription for free, but it might not be true. Some will auto-renew if you don’t cancel first, but you may not know that. Sometimes you’re signed up for a subscription without even knowing it. Learn the ins and outs of subscriptions to save yourself money, time, and aggravation.
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October 4, 2022
Five things to do to protect yourself online
Your online accounts, computer, and phone hold a lot of your personal, financial, and health information. Information that’s valuable to you — and to scammers who try to steal it. Here are five things to do to keep hackers out of your accounts and your personal business.
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September 26, 2022
Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web?
People are telling the FTC they’ve gotten emails warning that their sensitive personal information is being sold in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web. Some emails list the stolen information, like all or part of the person’s Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number. If you’ve gotten one of these emails, take steps to help protect yourself against financial loss from identity theft.
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September 13, 2022
Should we trust online reviews?
When’s the last time you checked out online reviews to decide whether to buy something? Or where to buy it? Many of us use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — but how do we know the reviews really are honest? Or from real buyers? Read on for ideas about handling fake reviews.
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September 7, 2022
Don't click on that random text. It's a scam.
Sorry to burst your bubble. That unexpected text from the Postal Service (USPS), Costco, or The Home Depot telling you about an unclaimed package or a survey you can complete to claim a freebie is NOT from them. It’s a scam.