Scams and Consumer Alerts

Scams and Alerts

From a loan offer to a prize notification - how do you know if it's the "real deal" or a scam?

Consumer Ed holding winner notice

Red Flags of a Scam

  • It sounds too good to be true.
  • You're asked to pay money to receive a prize.
  • Pressure to act immediately
  • Insistence you pay via gift cards, prepaid cards, wire transfer or cryptocurrency

What to Do if You've Lost Money in a Scam

It may be difficult to get your money back once it’s in the hands of a scammer, but here are some steps you can take to boost your chances of recovering your funds.

Loan Scams

Consumers with poor credit and are seeking loans should be careful not to fall victim to an advance fee loan scam. Beware of ads or make telemarketing calls offering guaranteed loans regardless of one's credit history.

Latest Scam Articles

Overpayment Scams

Dear Consumer Ed:  I posted an item for sale online and received an email from an interested buyer, saying he wanted to send me a certified check. He said the check will cover the cost of the item plus the expense incurred by the person who will pick up the item on his behalf. I am being asked to deposit the check and then wire a portion to the person picking up the item. Do you think this is a scam?

How can you tell if a work-from-home job is a scam?

Dear Consumer Ed:  My regular work hours have been cut back, so I’ve been looking for a work-from-home job to supplement my income. I see work-from-home jobs advertised online, but my friend says most of them are scams. How can I tell if a job posting is legitimate or not? 

Price Gouging

Dear Consumer Ed:  I see stores charging exorbitant prices for groceries, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.  One store I went to is charging $11 for six rolls of toilet paper and $6 a pound for ground beef. Isn’t this price gouging?