A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

March 28, 2026

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

With global attention focused on the conflict in Iran, it’s no surprise scammers have already added that situation to their story lines. Some recent reports to the FTC about imposter, romance, and fake charity scams include an Iran twist. The details change, but the scammer’s goal is always to trick you into paying or sharing your personal information. Here are some examples of these scams — and how to protect yourself.

• Scammers contact you unexpectedly about a fraudulent charge. The call or text appears to come from your bank or a company you know. They say they’ve detected charges from Iran on your account (a lie). They transfer you to someone who says they work for a government agency like the FTC (that’s another scammer) who convinces you to share your bank account information. But the truth is government agencies will never ask you to share financial information. Learn more at ftc.gov/imposters.
• Scammers pretending to be a friend or love interest in the military ask for money. Perhaps you’ve been chatting for a while with someone you met online. Now they tell you they’re deployed to Iran. Suddenly you get an urgent request to send them money — maybe because they can’t access their bank account or they have a medical emergency. But that’s when you know you’re likely dealing with a romance scam.
• Scammers create fake charities that sound and look official. They might claim to help people displaced or affected by the conflict in Iran and pressure you to donate in cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Before you donate, go to ftc.gov/charity to learn how to research, what questions to ask, and how to spot a charity scam.

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

Contrent Attribution: US FTC.gov

March 21, 2026

A Free Public Service

Tax season is approaching, and if you’re getting a refund, scammers are looking to steal it before you’ve had a chance to claim it. So, before you respond to a text or email about a “tax refund” — especially one that asks you to click a link — know that this could be a scam designed to get your personal information and steal your tax refund.

These scams often start with a text or email that looks like it’s from the IRS or a state tax office saying they’ve “processed” or “approved” your tax refund claim. (Note: that’s not how you find out about a real tax refund.) To “verify your identity” and “send you money,” they ask you to click a link to enter details like your Social Security and bank account numbers — but it’s a phishing scam. If you click and share your info, the scammer might steal your personal information to get your tax refund or even steal your identity to open other accounts.

If you get a message like this:

• Know that the real IRS and state tax offices won’t reach out by text, email, or on social media to get your information. Only scammers will.
• Don’t respond or click any links. To check the status of a pending tax refund, never use the link from the message. Instead, visit USA.gov to learn how to find out if you’re really getting a federal or state tax refund.
• Report and delete the message. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and mark unwanted emails as spam or junk. Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the message.

Visit IdentityTheft.gov/steps to learn how to protect yourself before identity theft happens. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

March 13, 2026

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

If you get a call saying “you’ve won a prize,” you might be thinking, why not claim it? Unfortunately, it’s likely a scam to steal your money — especially if it’s for a contest you didn’t enter. So how can you spot and avoid a prize scam?

Here’s how these scams often go. You get a call out of the blue saying you’ve won something — maybe a new car, a laptop, or money. The caller might even claim they’re with a well-known sweepstakes company like Publishers Clearing House, hoping to seem legitimate. (They’re not.) Before you can claim your prize, they say you need to pay “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges,” or “processing fees.” (You don’t.) Bottom line: if they say there’s a charge to get your prize, it’s a scam. If you pay, you’ll end up losing money instead of winning anything.

To help you avoid a prize scam:

• Slow down. Scammers will say things like “it’s a limited time offer” to try to pressure you to act quickly. So, if anyone tries to rush you into paying, stop.
• Know that real prizes are free. Anyone who tells you to pay to get your prize — whether it’s for “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges,” or “processing fees” — is a scammer.
• Do some research. Search online for the name of the contest or the company with words like “complaint,” “review,” or “scam” to see what others are saying. And know that no real sweepstakes company will demand money for a prize.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others from scammers — including an action plan you can start using today — check out Consumer.gov/scams.

And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.That random call saying “you’ve won a prize” is a scam

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A Free Public Service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

March 5, 2026

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

Scammers make up all kinds of bogus stories to steal your personal information, or your money. Some go negative and make up a problem that doesn’t really exist. Others try a positive spin and say you won something, like free money made available through a government grant or program. How do you know if these promises are legit — or a scam?

Here are five common signs of a fake government grant scam:

1. Scammers contact you out of the blue (by phone, email, text message, or social media) and say you qualify for free money from the government.
2. Scammers claim you can use government grant money for personal needs, like paying bills, education expenses, home repairs, or paying off debts.
3. Scammers ask for your personal information — like your Social Security number — to see if you qualify for a government grant.
4. Scammers ask for your financial information — like your bank account number — to deposit money from the government grant.
5. Scammers say you must pay processing or other fees to get your money — and insist you send them cash, gift cards, a wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

Knowing these truths about real government grants will help you avoid a scam:

• Government grants are typically awarded to organizations that applied for a grant and are for a very specific purpose.
• Government agencies won’t contact you by phone, text, social media, or email about a grant that you didn’t apply for.
• Government grants are not awarded for personal needs. (Learn about government programs that may help you pay for personal expenses, like food, housing, and health care, at usa.gov/benefit-finder.)
• Government agencies that award grants will not demand that you pay to get a grant. To learn more about real government grants and how to apply, go to grants.gov.

Learn more about recognizing scams at consumer.gov and use this action plan to help protect yourself from scams.

If you see a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.cam

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A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

February 13, 2026

SCAMSBULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County. California USA.

If a debt collector calls, do you know what to do? You have rights. Debt collectors can’t harass, lie, or treat you unfairly — even if you owe the debt. Before you pay, confirm a debt is actually yours — not someone else’s or a scam to get your money. Consider talking to the collector at least once to find out, even if you don’t think you owe the money. To help you avoid a scam, here’s what to do next.

Ask for “validation information” about the debt, which the collector has to give you, either when they first communicate with you or within five days of the first contact. That information includes: the collector’s name, the name of the creditor, the name and mailing address they have on file for the person they say owes the debt, how much money they claim you owe (including interest, fees, payments and credits), and your debt collection rights.

Then review the validation information. Is it your debt?

• If no, or you don’t recognize the debt, send the debt collector a dispute letter within 30 days. Say you don’t owe some or all of the money. Ask for a written verification of the debt, like a copy of the original bill for the amount you owe.
• If yes, consider your options. See if you’re able to enroll in a payment plan. If you’re unable to pay the full amount, you may be able to settle the debt for a lower, negotiated amount, though paying less than you owe could negatively affect your credit score.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore debt that might be yours. If you don’t pay, a debt collector might report your debt to a credit reporting agency, which can hurt your credit. They also may be able to sue you in court or garnish your wages.

Spot a fake or abusive debt collector? Report it to your state attorney general’s office and the Federal Trade Commission. FTC.gov.

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A Free Public Service

January 31, 2026

Atribution: US FTC.gov

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

You may get a text message, supposedly following up on a $10,000 loan application. Only, you never applied for a loan. Is this pure luck or a scam? Before you use the callback number in the message to find out, or even reply “NO” to cancel the application, learn to spot a fake loan text scam.

Scammers use unexpected text messages to catch you off guard. Maybe the text says you’re preapproved for a large loan amount (not true). Or the company says it needs your Social Security or bank account number to finish the “application” (also not true!). Scammers hope that, if it seems like the process is already in motion, you’ll reply now and think later. They might say something like “This is the last step” or “Just reply YES to confirm you still want to claim the loan.” But none of that’s true, either. It’s just a phishing scam. If you respond, you might end up giving a scammer exactly what they want — your personal information, which could lead to identity theft.

If you get a text about a loan you didn’t apply for, here’s how to handle it:

• Don’t reply or click links. It could lead to a scam.
• Insteatead, talk to someone you trust. Taking the time to talk about it with someone you trust could help you spot the scam.
• Delete unwanted texts using your phone’s “report junk” option, or forward them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you think a scammer already has your personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for specific steps to take based on the information you may have lost.

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A Free Public Service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

January 16, 2025

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

If you’re looking to get insurance from the Health Insurance Marketplace, you have until January 15^th to sign up. But dishonest companies sometimes advertise comprehensive health insurance when it’s really a medical discount plan or a health plan with limited insurance benefits. And, sometimes, an insurance “offer” is just a scam. As you compare your options, here are some things to consider:

• Know some warning signs. If ads for the so-called insurance focus on free stuff you’d get if you sign up — like money for groceries — and downplay the coverage, take a much closer look to really understand what you’d be getting.
• Don’t pay for help enrolling. It’s free to sign up through the Health Insurance Marketplace. And don’t pay anyone who says you have to give them cash, cryptocurrency, or your credit or debit card numbers to get or keep your health coverage. No matter who they say they are.
• Compare and sign up at the source. Go to HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center (1-800-318-2596) to get help or sign up.

You can also get free help from professionals:

• Assisters, organizations and individuals in your community, give free, independent advice, answer questions, and help you apply for and enroll in any Marketplace health plan. They can also help you apply for free or low-cost Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.
• Agents/brokers can answer questions and help you apply and enroll in the Marketplace health plans they sell, which may not be all the plans available to you. Insurance companies pay them when they sell their plans. Agents and brokers can also refer you to get help for Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

Time is of the essence: sign up by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Open season ends on January 15 for coverage starting February 1.

Spot a scammy healthcare ad? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

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January 10, 2026

Attribution: FTC.gov

A Free Public Service

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

If there’s information on your credit report that’s correct but not so great, it can make it harder to get credit with good terms. But there are things you can do yourself for free to help fix your credit. Credit repair companies also charge to do the same things. Before you consider paying, though, know the rules these companies have to follow — rules dishonest companies and scammers often break.

Before they do any work for you, credit repair companies have to write up a detailed contract that explains your legal rights (like your three-day right to cancel without any charge) and the total cost of their services. It’s illegal for credit repair companies to lie about what they can do for you, charge you before they help you, or ask you to lie on credit applications. Credit repair companies also can’t legally remove negative information from your credit report that’s correct and up to date.

Here are some ways to help fix your credit:

Find real help. Your local credit union, university, or military personal financial manager might be able to recommend a non-profit credit counseling program that can help.Spot the scams when fixing your credit.

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January 7, 2026

Attribution: US FTC.gov

A free Public Service

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

If you’re taking stock of your finances, setting goals, and preparing for a fresh start in 2026, make protecting yourself against identity theft part of your 2026 planning. Why? Identity thieves can drain your bank account, ruin your credit, and even block access to your health benefits and tax refund. On the bright side, there are ways to protect yourself. Identity Theft Awareness Week (IDTAW) is a great opportunity to learn more about getting started.

IDTAW runs from January 26-30 this year. During the week, the FTC and its partners are organizing free webinars, hosting podcasts, Facebook Live interviews, and other events to help you and people you know test your identity theft knowledge, take steps that make it harder for identity pirates to get their hands on your information, and find the tools to recover if identity theft happens to you.

But don’t wait for IDTAW! Here’s what you can do now:

• Get and share free resources at ftc.gov/IDTheftWeek to help build awareness about identity theft and how it can happen to anyone.
• Bookmark the IDTAW page and check for updates. Free events will be posted there.
• Watch and share FTC videos on identity theft to learn more about identity theft and help your community protect against it.
• If identity theft has happened to you or someone you know, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a personalized recovery plan.
• Learn more about identity theft at ftc.gov/IDTheft.
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