A Free Public Service

September 25, 2025

Attribution: US Ftc.gov

PROTECT WITH CREDIT FREEZE

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo, California, USA.

A credit freeze is something you can do anytime, for any reason. But it’s especially helpful if you’re dealing with identity theft or a lost wallet or data breach. While a freeze is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name.

A freeze is free to place or lift — and doesn’t affect your credit score

*is available to anyone, for any reason * lasts until you lift it

To place a credit freeze, contact all three credit bureaus —  Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When you need to lift the freeze — to do things like get a credit card or buy a car — you only need to contact the credit bureau a lender will use to check your credit. When you’re done, you can freeze it again.

Along with a credit freeze, you can also get an initial fraud alert if you are — or suspect you may be — affected by identity theft. Initial fraud alerts (also free) make lenders verify your identity before they grant new credit in your name. There are also two other types of alerts — extended fraud alerts and active duty alerts — (both also free), and which you choose depends on your situation and needs. Read Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert: What’s Right for Your Credit Report? to learn more.

If your identity was stolen, also make sure you report it at IdentityTheft.gov, where you’ll get a free recovery plan with next steps.

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September 20, 2025

A Free Public Sevice

Attribution: FTC.gov

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.
See an eye-catching “deal” on your social for a brand-name product at a big discount? Don’t click — it could be a scam. Here’s what to know.

Scammers sometimes impersonate real companies on social media, advertising big fake discounts on brand-name products. Clicking on a scammy ad can take you to a fake website that’s designed to steal your money or information, like your Social Security or bank account number. If you pay, you might get a cheap fake or nothing at all. If you give your personal information, the scammer might steal your identity.

To avoid responding to scammy ads on social media:

• Look up the seller before you click. Don’t assume the seller is the company brand named in the ad. Look closely to see if you can tell who the seller really is. Then, search that company’s name online, adding words like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.” Check to see what others are saying about the seller before you click on the ad.
• Compare prices. See what the product is selling for in other places. If the ad offers prices that are much, much lower, it’s probably a scam.
• Use a credit card. If you buy, paying by credit card gives you the best protections if something goes wrong. If you don’t get what you ordered or never get the product, for example, you may be able to dispute the charge. And never buy anything from online sellers who insist you can only pay with gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency. Only scammers will demand you pay in those ways.  

Already paid a scammer? Read What To Do if You Were Scammed to find out what to do next. And tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you’re worried about identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov. 

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Attribution: FTC.gov

September 12, 2025

A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Did you hear about an investment opportunity from a friend or someone in a group or community you’re a part of? Before you hand over any money, make sure you’re not getting into an investment scam. Here’s how.

One way investment scammers work is by using your community connections or claiming to have similar values to gain your trust. It can happen online, through social media, or in person. To get you to invest, they’ll promise high returns with little to no risk and lie about how much money others have already made investing with them in forex trading, stocks, cryptocurrency, or something else. After you invest, they’ll often tell you your investments are doing well and make you think you’re making money. The reality? The investment isn’t real or is extremely high-risk, and you end up losing all your money.

To avoid an investment scam:

• Look for information about the reputation of the investment company, its officials, and its promoters. Search online with their name plus words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” Go through several pages of search results.
• Check for licenses and registrations. Check out the background, including registration or license status, of anyone recommending or selling an investment using the free simple search tool on Investor.gov. For precious metals and coin investments, check with the CFTC database.
• Know that investments always involve risk. Don’t trust anyone who plays down the risk of an investment or who acts like risk disclosures are just a formality or something you don’t need to worry about. Scammers want you to think their opportunity is risk-free, but it’s not.

Learn more about affinity fraud — where scammers are or pretend to be part of a group — at Investor.gov, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.

And report investment scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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