Showing posts with label ftc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ftc. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2025

Tax season 2025: where to find help


Tax season 2025: where to find help

By BCP Staff

Tax season is here and people have questions. Where to file? How to file? Can I file online? For free? For those answers, always start with the official IRS website at irs.gov.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/02/tax-season-2025-where-find-help?




The Franklin Public Library also offers tax assistence for those with income less than $67,000  https://franklinma.gov/266/Volunteer-Income-Tax-Assistance-VITA

Tax season 2025: where to find help
Tax season 2025: where to find help


Monday, February 10, 2025

4 ways to avoid scams after a weather-related disaster


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By BCP Staff

Whenever severe weather strikes — blizzards, heavy winds, or the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles — you can bet scammers are following the news to target people affected. 
So, how do you protect yourself against weather-related scams?



Sunday, January 26, 2025

Dealing with spam texts, emails, and junk mail


Dealing with spam texts, emails, and junk mail

By Andrew Rayo

If it's not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it's your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn't ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.

Read more -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/dealing-spam-texts-emails-and-junk-mail?







Sunday, January 19, 2025

Got a text about unpaid tolls? It’s probably a scam




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Andrew Rayo

Whether you've driven through a toll recently or not, you might've gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It's probably a scam. 

Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money. Learn how the scam works so you can avoid it.



MassDOT sent a specific alert to EasyDrive users earlier this week
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/massdot-alerts-customers-of-smishing.html

Got a text about unpaid tolls? It’s probably a scam
Got a text about unpaid tolls? It’s probably a scam

Friday, January 10, 2025

Identity Theft Awareness Week 2025 is coming! (JAN 27)


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Eunice Kim

Are you interested in learning more about how to protect yourself from identity theft? Check out Identity Theft Awareness Week. During the week, the FTC and its partners will host free webinars and other events to talk about how to spot, avoid, report, and recover from identity theft. Mark your calendars. Identity Theft Awareness Week starts Monday, January 27!

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/identity-theft-awareness-week-2025-coming?




Identity Theft Awareness Week 2025 is coming! (JAN 27)
Identity Theft Awareness Week 2025 is coming! (JAN 27)

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Taking the guesswork out of gigs



Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Gema de las Heras

Say you're looking for ways to make extra cash and see an ad for a gig doing lawn or handy work, house cleaning, or assembling furniture. 

What they promise you'll make per hour sounds good. 

When you complete the work, you expect to make what you saw advertised, right? 

But the FTC says that's not what happened for most people who signed up for gigs on the Handy Technologies platform.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/taking-guesswork-out-gigs?




Taking the guesswork out of gigs
Taking the guesswork out of gigs


Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Stay ahead of scammers in 2025


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Gema de las Heras

With scammers targeting our entire life savings with their schemes, we all need to be alert and know how to detect their latest tricks. 
Something as simple as talking about scams you know about is a great way to help you and your community stay protected. 
And being part of this solution doesn't require training or a lot of time!

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/stay-ahead-scammers-2025?




Stay ahead of scammers in 2025
Stay ahead of scammers in 2025


Saturday, December 28, 2024

Detect immigration scams that start on social media


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Gema de las Heras

Scammers are impersonating attorneys and law firms, offering immigration services on social media. The posts on Facebook and other platforms might be in English or your preferred language. 

If you press like or leave a comment, they'll contact you and guarantee you'll get a work permit, green card, or citizenship — but it's a scam. 




Detect immigration scams that start on social media
Detect immigration scams that start on social media

Friday, December 20, 2024

Check out gift cards before you buy them




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Andrew Rayo

Doing some holiday shopping?

Here's a type of gift card scam to look out for: scammers can get the gift card number and PIN before you buy the card. 

So if gift cards are on your holiday shopping list, keep reading.

Read more -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/check-out-gift-cards-you-buy-them?




Check out gift cards before you buy them
Check out gift cards before you buy them

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

The low-down on health insurance ads during open season




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Christopher E. Brown

During open season for the Health Insurance Marketplace, you might have seen an increase — maybe a flood — of ads for health plans. The ads might promise comprehensive health insurance…but the plan turns out to have limited benefits. 
Or it's a medical discount card and not insurance at all. Some ads might promise rewards or rebates to anyone who signs up for a plan. 
Or they might say they're from the government – or government-endorsed, hoping to gain your trust. How to make heads or tails of it all?

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/low-down-health-insurance-ads-during-open-season?





The low-down on health insurance ads during open season
The low-down on health insurance ads during open season

Friday, December 6, 2024

That random text offering you a job? It’s probably a scam




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Andrew Rayo

If you need a job, that text messaging offering a full- or part-time position you didn't apply for might seem great. 

You might be thinking, why not check it out? Unfortunately, it's likely a job scam.




That random text offering you a job? It’s probably a scam
That random text offering you a job? It’s probably a scam

Friday, November 29, 2024

Give to a charity, not a scam


Give to a charity, not a scam

By Amy Hebert

There's no shortage of good causes to donate to this holiday season. But before you give somewhere new, make sure you're not donating to a scam.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/11/give-charity-not-scam?







Give to a charity, not a scam
Give to a charity, not a scam

 

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Don’t let scammers get in the way of your holiday shopping


Don’t let scammers get in the way of your holiday shopping

By Gema de las Heras

As the holiday season approaches, it seems like there are more and more fake shopping sites. The ads on social media show expensive products like electric scooters, designer bags, and other popular toys and gifts at unbelievably low prices. 

Many of these bogus sites use photos and logos the scammers steal from legitimate businesses, but they won't send you authentic products. If you're wondering how to avoid these phony offers, there are a few ways to help you detect them.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/11/dont-let-scammers-get-way-your-holiday-shopping?



 

Don’t let scammers get in the way of your holiday shopping
Don’t let scammers get in the way of your holiday shopping

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Helping kids navigate the online world: welcome to Youville


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Jim Kreidler

If the young people in your life spend lots of time online — watching videos, playing games and texting friends — do they have the skills to question and evaluate what they find there? 
The FTC's new educational materials and classroom-based tools could help. Whether you're an educator, parent, or youth group leader, head over to Youville and start exploring.

Read more ->   https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/11/helping-kids-navigate-online-world-welcome-youville?




Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfAGecNijS8

Check out Youville at: https://www.ftc.gov/youville

Monday, November 11, 2024

For Veterans Day, share how you spot and avoid scams


For Veterans Day, share how you spot and avoid scams

By Samuel Levine

Every November, people put out social media posts to honor family and friends who've served in the military. But did you know that servicemembers and veterans reported losing more than $350 million to fraud last year? 

Chances are, fraud has happened to someone you know. This year, make sure your Veterans Day tribute includes ways to help veterans, servicemembers, and military families spot scammers.


Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/11/veterans-day-share-how-you-spot-and-avoid-scams?




For Veterans Day, share how you spot and avoid scams
For Veterans Day, share how you spot and avoid scams

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Email or social media hacked? Here’s what to do



Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Alvaro Puig

Hackers target your email and social media accounts to steal your personal information. Like your username and password, bank or credit card account numbers, or Social Security number. 

If they get it, they use it to commit identity theft, spread malware, or scam other people. 

So, what are signs that someone hacked your account, and how can you recover a stolen account?

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Three ways scammers try to steal your money





Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Alvaro Puig

We recently shared advice to help you safeguard the personal information in your accounts, on your computer, and on your phone to protect it from identity theft. But scammers aren't just after your data. They want your hard-earned cash, too. Here are some common scams to watch out for.

Read more -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/10/three-ways-scammers-try-steal-your-money?





Three ways scammers try to steal your money
Three ways scammers try to steal your money

Thursday, October 24, 2024

How to avoid TSA PreCheck scams




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Eunice Kim

No one likes waiting in airport security lines. To speed things up, some people opt to get TSA PreCheck. Scammers know this and send emails that look like they're from TSA PreCheck — but they're not. 

The emails want you to click a link that takes you to a scam website that only looks like the official site — but it's not. If you pay to "enroll" or "renew" your TSA PreCheck, you may not even realize you've paid a scammer until you get to the airport for your next trip. 

But there are ways to spot these scams.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/10/how-avoid-tsa-precheck-scams?





How to avoid TSA PreCheck scams
How to avoid TSA PreCheck scams