The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The agency works hard to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices. These types of practices have become commonplace, and the FTC wants to educate the public about these scams.
The PASS IT ON Campaign urges people that have been taken in by scams and other fraudulent business practices to share their experiences with friends, family, and other acquaintances. By hearing about these experiences from trusted sources, others are less likely to be taken in by these same scams.
As part of the campaign, the FTC shares articles with tips and advice on how to avoid the following scams:
The FTC website also provides links for Free Credit Reports at www.annualcreditreport.com and the National Do No Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov. Check out the website for related consumer information.
Another common scam involves the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS offers tips for spotting scam phone calls in their August 2014 article titled Five Easy Ways to Spot Suspicious Calls
It is always better to be safe rather than sorry. If you suspect a scam, report it quickly to the FTC. Call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261. Complaints can also be filed online at ftc.gov/complaint
Your complaint will help protect other people. Pass It On.