These free financial resources about identity theft, scams, fraud, privacy, etc. are provided by the FTC.ย Below are the descriptions with links to each item on the FTC site. ย The majority are in PDF format, feel free to download, use and share them.
- 10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud: Provides consumers with 10 tips for avoiding mass marketing fraud.
- Advance-Fee Loan Scams – ‘Easy’ Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons: Explains how to spot a scam and avoid losing your money. Legitimate lenders never “guarantee” or say that you are likely to get a loan or a credit card before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or bankruptcy.
- Costly Coupon Scams: Cautions the public about fraudulent promoters who claim consumers can earn big money clipping coupons, or selling “coupon certificate booklets.โ
- Credit, ATM and Debit Cards – What to Do If They’re Lost or Stolen: Outlines procedures for reporting loss or theft and how to minimize your risk.
- Deter, Detect, Defend – Avoid ID Theft: Tri-fold brochures with tips for consumers on how to deter, detect and defend against identity theft.
- Identity Crisis… What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen: Advice on dealing with identity theft.
- Invention Promotion Firms: Urges consumers to use caution when it comes to determining market potential for their inventions. Tips to avoid falling for the sweet-sounding promises of a fraudulent promotion firm.
- Military Personnel & Families Fighting Back Against Identity Theft: Brochure with tips for military personnel and their families on how to deter, detect and defend against identity theft.
- Mortgage Assistance Relief Scams – Another Potential Stress for Homeowners in Distress: Inside information on how people can spot, avoid and report mortgage assistance relief scams; tips on how the law protects homeowners from fraud; and where to turn for legitimate help.
- Pretexting – Your Personal Information Revealed: Pretexting is when someone tries to get your personal information under false pretenses, to sell it, steal your assets or identity, or get credit in your name.
- Putting Telephone Scams… on Hold: Explains how telemarketing scams work, how older people become victims and how to protect yourself. Also outlines your rights under the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
- Real People, Real Stories: Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams: A 3ยฝ minute video in English and Spanish featuring real experiences with foreclosure to help homeowners avoid foreclosure rescue scams and get free, legitimate housing counseling. Includes copies of A Note to Homeowners in English and Spanish.
- Straight Talk About Telemarketing: Explains how telemarketing scams work, offers tips to protect yourself and outlines your rights under the Telemarketing Sales Rule. Explains how to reduce unwanted calls.
- Student Loans – Avoiding Deceptive Offers: How to spot potentially deceptive claims or business practices some private companies may use to get your student loan business.
- Take Charge – Fighting Back Against Identity Theft: The FTC’s comprehensive guide for victims of identity theft. Includes the ID Theft Affidavit.
- To Buy or Not To Buy – Identity Theft Spawns New Products and Services to Help Minimize Risk: Publication to help consumers evaluate whether they should initiate fraud alerts or credit freezes or invest in identity theft products and services such as credit monitoring.
- Work At Home Schemes: Advises consumers interested in work-at-home opportunities (including medical billing, envelope stuffing and craft or assembly work) to research these offers carefully.
- Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information: Explains that you have the right to opt out of sharing of your personal financial information and that you will receive privacy notices from financial institutions you do business with.
- You Make the Call – The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule: Explains how the National Do Not Call Registry makes it easier and more efficient for consumers to reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing sales calls they get and how to register.
- Billed for Merchandise You Never Received? Here’s What to Do: Explains your rights and steps to take to correct the problem. Includes a sample dispute letter.
