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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Top search results online are often paid ads — including when you search for substance use disorder treatment clinics. Dishonest businesses sometimes advertise on search engines using the names of real treatment centers, but list their own contact information. So when you call, you might reach the imposter business — not the real one you were looking for — making it harder to get the care you’re after. 

Have a specific treatment clinic you’re interested in? When searching online, review the results carefully before clicking on the ad or calling the number. And take a closer look at any program or center you find before sending them any money or giving them any of your personal information.

To get real help near you, start at FindTreatment.gov.

Spot a dishonest business? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Know someone else who could use this information? Share this video. 

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A Free Public Service

August 26, 2025

Attribution: US ftc.gov

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

If you’re looking to join a gym, you’ll probably find the membership sign-up process is quick and easy. Cancelling should be easy, too — but sometimes businesses make you jump through hoops that make it nearly impossible to quit. That’s unlawful and costs people a lot of time and money. And that’s what the FTC alleges LA Fitness did to people who signed up for monthly gym subscriptions.

Some gyms say you can try out a membership for free — but it might not be true. Some will auto-renew if you don’t cancel first, which might come as a surprise. And sometimes you’re trapped in a membership because of a confusing maze you have to go through before the gym will honor your cancellation request.

Learn about subscriptions to save yourself money, time, and potential aggravation. Before you sign up:

• See what others are saying online. Search for the company’s name and the word “subscription” plus words like “complaint,” “problem,” “cancel,” and “fee” to see if people have had issues in the past.
• Check the terms and conditions. If the subscription includes auto-renewals, know that you’ll keep getting charged until you cancel.
• Learn more about how to cancel a paid subscription with automatic billing.

Already have a subscription? Here’s what to do if you have trouble cancelling:

• Dispute unauthorized credit card charges. If you’ve tried to cancel a subscription and the company won’t stop charging your account, dispute it with your credit or debit card company. Just changing your credit or debit card number is often not enough.
• Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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BCP Staff

August 26, 2025

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A Free Public Service

August 13, 2025

Attribution: USFTC.gov

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

While scrolling through social media, you might come across a video or post discussing an “opportunity” to make money using checks. The problem? That advice could get you in trouble.

The supposed hack involves writing a check for more money than you have, depositing it into a different account of yours, and then withdrawing the money before the (bad) check is fully processed. What the video or post might not tell you is that could leave you on the hook for paying back all the money, kicked out of your bank, and in serious legal trouble for bank fraud.

Before you jump onboard a viral trend: 

• Do some research. Search the trend along with terms like “scam” or “fraud” to see what others are saying about it. Talk to friends and family to see what they think.
• Think about the source. What do you know about the person or account that makes them trustworthy?
• Compare advice from a variety of well-known sources. Don’t just trust what one person or account says.

Learn more at ftc.gov/fakechecks.

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A Free Public Service

August 2, 2025

Attribution: US Ftc.gov.

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

Discharged from the military, retiring, or transitioning to civilian life? Once you leave active duty, you might be interested in new career opportunities to put your valuable skills and experience to work. Scammers are also looking for opportunities — specifically, to steal your money. Reports to the FTC about job scams have tripled from 2020 to 2024 and reported losses jumped from $90 million to $501 million in that time. Here are some ways to help you spot a scam while you’re job searching.

Reports to the FTC say scammers flock to the places where job seekers look: online ads, job sites, and social media. But sometimes they try to contact you directly. You might get an unexpected text or message on WhatsApp from someone who says they’re a recruiter for a company. The message might even look like it’s coming from a company you know. If it asks you to click a link or enter personal or financial information, that’s probably a scam.

To avoid job scams:

• Start your job search with trusted sources. Try visiting sites like fedshirevets.gov and your state’s job bank at Career OneStop.
• Do some research. Search online for the name of the company and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” If you can’t find the company online, steer clear.
• Slow down and talk to someone you trust. Scammers try to pressure you to act quickly so you don’t have time to think. Slow down and see what your friends and family have to say about the job ad.
• Never pay anyone to get a job. Anyone who asks you to pay to get a job is a scammer. 

Learn more about spotting and avoiding job scams at ftc.gov/jobscams and report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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

A Free Public Service

July 25, 2025

Attributon: US FTC.gov

Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.

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

A free Public Service

July 15, 2025

Attribution: US FTC.gov

In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people’s generosity. So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?

• Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record of dealing with disasters.
• Before you give, research the charity yourself — especially if the donation request comes on social media. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, or Charity Watch. Find out exactly how much of your donation will go directly to the people the charity says it helps.
• Don’t donate to anyone who insists you must pay by cash, gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay. If you decide to donate, paying by credit card gives you more protections.
• Be cautious about giving to individuals on crowdfunding sites. Know that money raised in a crowdfunding campaign goes to the campaign organizer, not directly to the people or cause it’s set up to help. Review the platform’s policies — does it take measures to verify postings that ask for help after a disaster? And know that donating via crowdfunding is not tax deductible.
• Confirm the number before you text to donate. If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity’s website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text.

To learn more about how to donate safely, go to ftc.gov/charity. For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.

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• Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record of dealing with disasters.
• Before you give, research the charity yourself — especially if the donation request comes on social media. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, or Charity Watch. Find out exactly how much of your donation will go directly to the people the charity says it helps.
• Don’t donate to anyone who insists you must pay by cash, gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay. If you decide to donate, paying by credit card gives you more protections.
• Be cautious about giving to individuals on crowdfunding sites. Know that money raised in a crowdfunding campaign goes to the campaign organizer, not directly to the people or cause it’s set up to help. Review the platform’s policies — does it take measures to verify postings that ask for help after a disaster? And know that donating via crowdfunding is not tax deductible.
• Confirm the number before you text to donate. If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity’s website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text.

To learn more about how to donate safely, go to ftc.gov/charity. For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.

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

A Free Public Service

July 11, 2025

Attribution: FTC.gov

Scammers are always “hiring” but don’t actually want to employ you. Instead, they want your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to spot and avoid a job scam.

Scammy recruiters who claim to be recruiting for a big-name employer often reach out by email or text with a remote job offer — sometimes from a personal phone number or email account. You might get an email with an official-looking invitation for a virtual interview along with information about your job duties and job benefits.

Then they’ll move fast. Before you even interview, you might get an official-looking job offer along with paperwork that requires your personal financial information (supposedly for direct deposit). The recruiter will push for that information before they answer your questions about the job. In reality, there is no job and the “recruiter” is a scammer. Real employers won’t ask for that kind of information before they’ve actually interviewed and hired you.

How do you know if that job offer is a scam?

• Look at the sender’s email address. Is the email from a business or a personal email? Recruiters will generally email from a corporate email account, not from a personal email like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com.
• They ask for your personal information before you interview. Scammers will ask for your driver’s license, Social Security, or bank account number to fill out “employment paperwork”. Your sensitive information might be the focus of your “interview” and they might ask to get that information before they’ll talk about job duties.
• Check out the recruiter. Search online the name of the recruiter or their company to see what you find about them. Type the name with words like “scam” or “complaint.”

For more information on how to spot job scams, go to ftc.gov/jobscams.

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A Free Public Service

July 1, 2025

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

The FTC is sending out over 969,000 payments worth more than $126 million to Fortnite gamers charged for unwanted items.

If you submitted a valid claim by February 14, 2025, you’ll get the payment via the method you requested. If you get a check, cash it within 90 days. If you get a PayPal payment, accept it within 30 days. You don’t need to do anything else to get your payment.

If you submitted a claim after February 14, 2025, the FTC will review your claim. You don’t need to do anything else.

If you think you’re eligible for a refund and haven’t already submitted a claim, go to ftc.gov/Fortnite to learn if you’re eligible and how to apply. All claims are due by Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Avoid scams related to the Fortnite refunds program. The FTC will never ask you to pay money to file a claim. If you get an email or text message that tells you to click a link or pay to get your refund, it’s a scam. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Get more information about the FTC’s Fortnite refunds program at ftc.gov/Fortnite.

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June 28, 2025

Attribution: FTC.gov

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

“You’ve won!” are two words likely to get your attention – but sometimes it’s a scammer delivering the news. (Spoiler: you didn’t win anything.) Here’s how to spot and avoid prize scams.

These scams usually look something like this: You get a call or a text saying you’ve won thousands (or even millions) of dollars, a car, a fancy watch — or maybe all three! You don’t remember entering a contest, but free stuff sounds good. But if you reply, they’ll say you need to pay to get the prize — maybe for processing fees or taxes. No matter what they say, real sweepstakes have free prizes — any money you send is going to a scammer’s pocket…and, sorry, there is no prize.

Scammers often use names that sound like well-known sweepstakes or companies, like Publishers Clearing House (PCH) — to trick you into trusting them. Here are some things to know to avoid a prize scam.

• Real prizes are free. If there’s a charge, it’s a scam. 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. Stop and walk away.
• Scammers tell you to act NOW. They’ll say it’s a limited offer and try to rush you. They don’t want you to have time to think about what’s really happening. So, if anyone tries to hurry you into paying, stop. Remember that’s something scammers do.
• Scammers use names that look like real companies. But no real sweepstakes company will demand money for a prize. If you want to double-check, reach out to the real company. Just make sure to use contact information you found yourself — not contact info from the person who called you.

Spot a prize scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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