Ah, back-to-school season. The smell of fresh notebooks, the rustle of new backpacks, and the time to sharpen not just pencils, but your money management skills! Whether you’re a student trying to stretch your ramen budget, a parent juggling bill payments, or someone who just loves staying one step ahead of sneaky scammers, the Federal Trade Commission has got your back. Welcome to the magical world of consumer.gov, where financial literacy meets plain language and practical advice. ...

Hey there, savvy internet user! Are you ready to level up your scam-busting skills? Criminals are getting craftier, using tactics that might even make the sneakiest cartoon villains jealous. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Let’s dive into some practical tips to keep those pesky scammers at bay, especially when it comes to unsolicited packages and QR codes. The Mystery Package Problem Ever received a package and thought, “Wait, did I order this in a sleep-deprived online shopping spree?” Before you start thinking you’ve got a secret admirer, consider this: it might be a scam! ...

Ah, debt. It’s like that unwanted guest who just won’t leave the party. If you’re retired or about to be, living on a fixed income can make paying off that debt feel like a Herculean task. But fear not, dear retirees, because we’re here to help you navigate these treacherous financial waters without falling for scams that promise to make your debt disappear quicker than Houdini. Spoiler alert: They won’t. ...

Oh, the joys of dodging digital pickpockets! It seems like every time we turn around, there’s a new scam trying to sneak its way into our lives. This time, the crafty scammers are masquerading as Amazon, hoping to lure us into their web of deceit with promises of refunds for problematic purchases. But fear not, dear reader, because I’ve got the scoop on how to dodge this digital disaster. Picture this: you’re minding your own business when suddenly, your phone buzzes with a text from “Amazon.” They claim they’ve found an issue with something you bought during a “routine quality inspection.” Hmm, sounds fishy already, right? They then tantalize you with a full refund offer—no need to return the item! All you have to do is click a link. But hold your horses, because that link is the gateway to a phishing scam designed to steal your personal information faster than you can say “one-click purchase.” ...

Welcome to the digital underbelly known as The Com! It’s not your friendly neighborhood watch group; rather, it’s where the internet’s most notorious cyber baddies hang out. The Com is divided into three notorious groups: Hacker Com, IRL (In Real Life) Com, and Extortion Com. Imagine these as the digital equivalent of villainous cliques in a high school cafeteria, but instead of trading sandwiches, they’re exchanging crime plans. The Com Breakdown Hacker Com: These are the tech wizards who break into systems for fun, profit, or to make a point. Think of them as the “keyboard warriors” with a cause… usually a nefarious one. IRL Com: These folks take their skills offline, mingling real-world tactics with cyber shenanigans. They might use your online info to cause trouble in the physical world. Extortion Com: The name says it all. They’re not after your lunch money; they want cold hard cash (or Bitcoin) in exchange for not leaking your private data. How to Outsmart The Com To keep these digital delinquents at bay, the FBI has some sage advice: ...

Ah, North Korea—known for their love of missile launches, questionable haircuts, and apparently, sneaky IT workers! The FBI has flagged a new type of cyber threat: North Korean IT workers infiltrating U.S. businesses to fund the regime’s dark deeds. Let’s unravel this sneaky saga and equip your company with the knowledge to avoid falling into their cunning traps. The Sneaky Playbook North Korean IT workers have mastered the art of disguise, kind of like secret agents but without the cool gadgets. They use U.S.-based individuals (some clueless, some complicit) to land jobs at American companies. These unwitting (or witting) accomplices help them bypass controls meant to keep out unauthorized workers. Imagine sending a laptop to what you think is your new employee in New York, only to find out it’s being used by someone in Pyongyang! ...

Imagine you’re chilling at home, binging your favorite series when suddenly, your living room turns into a scene from a high-stakes action movie. No, you didn’t accidentally press the wrong button on your remote. You’ve just become a victim of “swatting,” the Internet’s least funny prank. What in the World is Swatting? Swatting isn’t a new fly-swatting technique but rather an alarming trend where folks trick emergency services into sending swarms of armed officers to someone’s doorstep. It’s like calling 911 because your friend ate the last slice of pizza, but a billion times worse. These pranksters, often hiding behind the anonymity of the internet, send false reports of hostages or bomb threats, leading to dramatic and dangerous police responses. ...

Imagine chilling on your couch, watching your favorite show, when suddenly, your living room turns into the set of a high-octane cop movie. No, it’s not a new reality TV show. It’s called swatting, and it’s as dreadful as it sounds. Swatting - The Unwanted House Call The dark corners of the internet have birthed a bizarre trend where some hacker groups offer swat-for-hire services. These aren’t the friendly SWAT teams you see in action flicks. They’re real-life police units, tricked into storming your home thanks to a fake emergency call. Now, you might say, “Who would do such a thing?” Well, it turns out, more folks than you’d like, especially in hacker communities where infighting and retaliation are as common as memes. ...

Ah, the joys of childhood: playing in the park, making new friends, and, of course, dodging online scams like a pro. Wait, what? That’s right, folks. In today’s digital playground, kids need to be as savvy online as they are on a jungle gym. Enter Youville—a magical land where kids learn to become cyber ninjas, and parents can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Why Youville? For military kids who move more often than a game of musical chairs, adapting to new places can be tough. But adapting to the online world? That’s a whole different ballgame. Just like they rely on a village of adults for support in the real world, they need the same digital safety net online. Youville is here to help, offering tools to talk about everything from privacy to spotting scams and understanding those sneaky online ads. ...

🚗 Steer Clear of Fake DMV Texts Picture this: You’re cozied up on the couch, binge-watching your favorite series, when ding!—a text from the DMV pops up. It claims you owe money for a traffic ticket, threatens to suspend your license, and even mentions a scary-sounding “DMV violation database.” It’s urgent, it’s terrifying…and it’s also a big fat scam! 🚫 🎭 The Scam Showdown Here’s how the scam goes down: The text looks official and even has a stern tone—just like you’d expect from a serious government agency. But instead of providing civic duty vibes, the text is out to swipe your cash and personal info. It might include a link to pay up, threatening to take away your driving privileges and throwing in a 35% service fee for good measure. Yikes, right? ...