Federal Trade Commission – 10 Tips for Being a Canny Consumer
The FTC urges consumers to consult Putting a Lid on International Scams: 10 Tips for Being a Canny Consumer, at the FTC’s Web page www.ftc.gov
These tips include:
- Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash; the sender has no protection against loss.
- Don’t send money to someone you don’t know
- Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information, whether the message comes as an e-mail, a phone call, a text message, or an ad
- Don’t play a foreign lottery
- Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back, no matter how convincing the story
- Read your bills and monthly statements regularly – on paper and online
- In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight
- Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments
- Remember there’s no such thing as a sure thing
- Know where an offer comes from and who you are dealing with
We also suggest you sign up for our Fraud Prevention e-LERT. Our Fraud Prevention e-LERT will immediately advise you when we have added a new article or warning to the ‘Fraud Alert' section of our website.
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