Other videos
- Documentary on Preventing Investment Fraud
- A short trailer, and free access, to a DVD copy of Trick$ of the Trade: Outsmarting Investment Fraud, which was originally featured on PBS. The documentary can be ordered, free of charge, online or by phone.
- Annuities Guide
- A concise document that helps consumers understand what annuities are as well as the different types. Additionally, this document highlights potential consumer pitfalls associated with annuities.
- Watch out for these scams!
- This article highlights a variety of popular scams, helping consumers identify a variety of them, and provides advice to consumers as to how they can avoid them.
- Reverse Mortgage Scams
- This article, by Nolo, details scams associated with reverse mortgages. Additionally, the article offers advice as to when a reverse mortgage might be a good solution.
- Investment Risks
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this website outlines various considerations investors should keep in mind before making any serious financial investment.
- Investing Online
- This article, by the Federal Trade Commission, outlines various considerations consumers need to keep in mind when investing online in order to avoid various scams. The article also provides consumers with information about how to report online investment fraud.
- Report Fraud
- From the U.S. Department of Justice, this website offers consumers a list of investigative agencies who deal with possible cases of fraud.
- Protect your parents from scams
- This article, by the AARP, gives advice to consumers for how they can protect their parents from scams. Additionally, the article is available in Spanish.
- Most recent scam alerts
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this website provides an update list of current reported scams.
- Scam Alerts
- From the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, this website offers information on a range of common scams, such as charity scams and travel scams.
- How to help a scam victim
- This expansive guide, by SaveAndInvest.org, offers advocates information about how they can successfully work with victims of financial fraud.
- A guide to help you prevent financial abuse
- This guide, by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, provides seniors with information about both managing finances and reducing the risk of financial exploitation.
- IRS Call Scam
- This page, by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, warns consumers about a phone scam targeting taxpayers across the country.
- “Dialing for Dollars” scam
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this article warns consumers of a recent scam in which a scammer calls, pretending to be a government official, and claims that you owe money.
- Federal Trade Commission
- Government agency overseeing the protection of American consumers.
- FTC Identity Theft Site
- Website designed to provide general information regarding identity theft and how to avoid it.
- FTC Data Breach Page
- Provides information regarding what to do if you get a message that says your information was lost or stolen.
- Opting out of prescreened offers
- 1-888-567-8688
- Allows users to opt of receiving pre-approved offers of credit via mail or e-mail.
- National Do Not Call List
- 1-888-382-1222 (Voice)
- 1-866-290-4326 (TTY)
- Provides information and services relating to telemarketing calls. Allows visitors to place their number on the national do not call registry, meaning telemarketers can no longer contact them with offers.
- FTC OnGuardOnline Program
- Government sponsored website providing online security information and tips for maximizing online security.
Part 2
- FTC Free Trials Page
- Provides information regarding offers involving the free use of a product or service for a limited period of time.
- FTCcomplaintassistant.gov
- Sample Consumer Complaint Letter: Provides a standard form that can be copy/pasted into word processing software that can then be edited as appropriate and sent to the FTC to file a complaint regarding an issue with a purchased product or service.
- FTC Business Opportunities Page
- Provides information regarding offers to start a business or invest in a money making opportunity.
Part 4
- FTC Job Scams Page
- Provides information regarding scams involving offers of employment.
- National Do Not Call Registry
- Use this site to remove your phone number from unsolicited sales calls.
- FTC Health & Fitness Page
- Provides information on the marketing of health and fitness service products, including, but not limited to, vitamins, performance enhancers, and over the counter drugs.
Identity Theft
- Video to help identity theft victims
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this video helps consumers recognize, report, and repair the damage caused by identity theft.
- Who to contact if you’ve become a victim
- From Practical Money Skills, this article gives consumers important advice concerning whom to contact if they should fall victim to identity theft.
- Minimize the risk of becoming a victim
- Also from Practical Money Skills, this article sets out simple steps consumers can take to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.
- Preventing Identity Theft
- From Nolo, this article provides a variety of helpful tips to minimize the risk of identity theft.
- 10 ways to prevent identity theft
- From AARP, this article outlines ten simple steps consumers can take in order to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
- Signs of identity theft
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this article helps consumers by detailing signs that may point toward identity theft.
- Common identity theft scams
- From Washington State Office of the Attorney General, this website lists a range of common identity theft scams, both low-tech and high-tech.
- What to do if your identity is stolen
- This extensive guide, by the Federal Trade Commission, explains what consumers should do if they have become a victim of identity theft. Additionally, the guide provides information about reducing your risk of becoming a victim.
- Tax Identity Theft
- From the Federal Trade Commission, this website includes a wide variety of resources on tax identity theft, including a link to an IRS brochure on tax id theft, as well as articles, PowerPoints, and more. Victims of tax identity theft should file complaints with the FTC at www.ftc.gov or 1-877-IDTHEFT or with the IRS Specialized ID Theft Unit at 1-800-908-4490.