A free public service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

July 21, 2026

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

When a scammer calls or texts you about unclaimed funds, they might use a real-sounding (but fake) government agency name. To get your attention, they might mention a specific amount you’re (supposedly) entitled to. But this is a phishing scam.

If the caller says time is running out, or the text says they’ve extended the claim period just for you, that’s a scam. If the caller asks for personal information, or an upfront “processing” fee to release the funds, that’s a scam.

The government won’t call or text and ask you to pay them to search for unclaimed funds. And they won’t pressure you to respond right away. Scammers play on your fear of missing out, hoping you’ll respond now and ask questions later.

So, no matter what a call or text says about unclaimed funds:

• Don’t click links in unexpected texts. State unclaimed property programs won’t text you with alerts about unclaimed property — but a scammer will.
• Check out your state’s .gov website first. Every state has a process to search for unclaimed funds— for free. Go to unclaimed.org/search to find your state’s unclaimed property office.
• Report the scam. If you spot a phishing scam like this one, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Then, talk about it with a friend to help them spot the scam too.

To stay up on the latest scams, get FTC’s Consumer Alerts delivered to your email inbox. Sign up at ftc.gov/ConsumerAlerts.

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A free public service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

June 19, 2026

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

When you’re looking for an apartment or vacation rental, you’re probably considering things like price, location, and amenities. Scammers know that, so they make up fake rental listings they know will grab your attention — and money — before you discover there isn’t really a place waiting for you. Before you make a move, learn how to spot and avoid fake rental ads.

1. Scammers copy the pictures, description, or virtual tour from a real online rental listing, replace the agent’s contact information with their own, and then post the phony ads on a new site. So if you call or email about the rental, you’ll reach a scammer.

What happens next? The scammer will do one or more of the following:

• The scammer might try to pocket your money for the supposed application fee, deposit, first month’s rent, or vacation rental charge.
• The scammer might tell you to complete an application with information like your Social Security number, a picture of your driver’s license, paystubs, and other personal details. Then they might use this information to steal your identity.
• The scammer might say you need to show you’re creditworthy by sending screenshots of your credit scores. What they really want is to get you to enroll in a paid credit monitoring program with recurring fees.

Once the scammer gets your money or personal information, they disappear and you’re left with no place to move in to.

What to do: Search online for the rental location’s address along with the name of the property owner or rental company. If other ads come up for the same address, but with a different owner or rental company name, that’s a sign of a scam. Go to the rental company’s own website to see if the property is listed there, too. If it isn’t, the ad you found may be a scam.

2. Scammers create listings for places that aren’t for rent or don’t exist.

The fake ads might offer surprisingly low rent or amazing amenities. But when you ask to see the rental, the fake owner will usually claim to be out of the country or give another excuse for not showing the property — then rush you into making a quick decision.

The fake owner might tell you can only secure the property with a wire transfer through Western Union or MoneyGram, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to pay for an application fee, deposit, or first month’s rent. But after you pay, the person you’ve been dealing with will disappear with your money.

What to do: If anyone pressures you to make a decision quickly, hang up and walk away. And if you find the home listed for sale instead of for rent, that’s also a big red flag.  And know that if you send money by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, it’s like sending cash. Once it’s gone, you probably can’t get it back.

Protect Your Personal Information and Money

• Never give personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you and claims to be working with the owner or rental company. Instead, use the contact information you already have to contact the owner or company.
• Guard your personal information throughout the rental process. Until you’ve agreed to rent a place, a landlord doesn’t need your Social Security number, credit score, or other sensitive information. And most landlords normally pull your credit score themselves — they don’t tell you to get it for them.
• Listen to how they tell you to pay. If anyone insists you can only pay with wire transfers through Western Union or MoneyGram, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, it’s a scam. Wiring money, sending gift cards, or paying by cryptocurrency is the same as sending cash — once you send it, you probably can’t get it back.

Report Problems

If you notice a rental listing scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and the website where the ad was posted. And report it to US FTC.gov/scams.

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A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

July 12, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.
Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.

Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.

If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

Resist the pressure to act immediately. Honest businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.

Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone.

Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.

If you were scammed or think you saw a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

July 5, 2026

Attribution: US FTC.gov

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

Scammers can be very convincing. They call, email, and send us text messages trying to get our money or sensitive personal information — like our Social Security or account numbers. And they’re good at what they do. Here’s what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone. If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already. No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.

If You Paid a Scammer

Did you pay with a credit card or debit card?	Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?	Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you pay with a gift card?	Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card itself, and the gift card receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram?	Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.MoneyGram at 1-800-926-9400Western Union at 1-800-448-1492Ria (non-Walmart transfers) at 1-877-443-1399Ria (Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World transfers) at 1-855-355-2144
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank?	Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a money transfer app?	Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency?	Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction, if possible.
Did you send cash?	If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visit USPS Package Intercept: The Basics.If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as

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Attribution: US FTC.gov

A Free Public Service

July 1, 2026

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

Scammers have been taking advantage of how much people love animals. They will steal and manipulate pet images, videos, and even use AI-generated deep fakes to help them trick you into giving them your money or personal information. Fortunately, there are ways to help you detect and avoid these kinds of scams.

• Scammers pretend to be law enforcement or an animal hospital, claiming to have your pet who’s had an emergency. They might have seen a flyer for a missing pet, or know from social media that you’re away from home. They might even use AI to create fake photos or videos of your pet in distress. But it’s all a lie. If someone says the only way to pay for your pet’s treatment is with a gift card, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service, you’re dealing with a scammer.  
• Scammers impersonate real animal shelters and hospitals collecting donations for pets in need. They might create fake webpages and posts using stolen or AI-generated images of pets in need of forever homes. If someone asks you to donate, check ftc.gov/charity for advice on how to donate safely. And, as part of your research, do a reverse image search to see if the images are stolen.
• Scammers want you to think you won a prize because you previously donated to help animals. The name of the prize or organization might sound real but it’s another lie. If you have to pay to collect a prize or sweepstakes winnings, you know it’s a scam.

Don’t let scammers rush you into making a decision. Slow down and talk to someone you trust. And if you spot one of these scams, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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