MilConsumer Blog Feed

On May 11 , @MilConsumer and @StopFraudCo (the Stop Fraud campaign of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office) will host a chat to discuss consumer challenges related to permanent changes of station during military service. Servicemembers and military families may face a PCS at this time of year; get tips on avoiding pitfalls like identity theft or rental scams. Be part of the conversation at #Milchat or #Milconsumer at 3:00 pm ET/1:00 pm MT.

As part of the FTC’s settlement with DeVry University for deceptive advertising, the school agreed to pay $49.4 million to the FTC for partial refunds to some students. The FTC plans to mail checks before the end of the summer to people who: enrolled in a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program at DeVry University between January 1, 2008 and October 1, 2015; paid at least $5,000 with cash, loans or military benefits; did not get debt or loan...

When it comes to reporting and recovering from identity theft, we’re simplifying the process by eliminating the need for a police report in most cases. How does it work? When you report identity theft using IdentityTheft.gov, you’ll answer some questions about what happened. IdentityTheft.gov then uses your information to create the tools you need to begin your recovery, including: a personal recovery plan pre-filled letters to send to merchants...

If you can’t get your hands on a Nintendo Switch gaming system, you may think an emulator is the next best thing. Think again. Online ads for emulators, sometimes with Nintendo branding, say they can run Switch’s games on your desktop. But there is no legit Nintendo Switch emulator. It’s a scam. Even worse, when you try to download a Nintendo Switch emulator, you can install unwanted applications on your computer. These apps give you misleading...

Do you have a debt with the IRS that’s more than two years old? If so, you might be getting a letter from the IRS about your account being transferred to a private debt collector. This new program only applies to taxpayers who have had an IRS debt for years, and who were previously contacted about it by the IRS. Here’s how it will work – and how to spot a scam. If your debt is put into this program, the IRS says you will get two letters. The...

The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program is accepting applications through April 21, for the 2017 class. The Fellowship program certifies military spouses to provide financial counseling and education within the military community and beyond. The FINRA Foundation covers the costs of the program coursework and testing for the self‐study program. Upon successful completion of the program, FINRA Foundation fellows earn the AFC®...

Some cons send pop-up computer warnings to pitch unnecessary – and sometimes harmful – tech support services. Some make phone calls. Others – like one scammer the FTC just sued – send spam emails that falsely claim the FTC hired them to help remove problem software. In this case, announced today, the court has ordered the defendant to stop claiming he’s affiliated with the FTC, to shut down his websites and phone numbers, and inform current...

“Something for nothing” sounds appealing, but often there’s a hidden cost. If the something is a site or app offering free downloads or streams of well-known movies, popular TV shows, big-league sports, and absorbing games, the hidden cost is probably malware. Sites offering free content often hide malware that can bombard you with ads, take over your computer, or steal your personal information. We recently downloaded movies from five sites that...

Servicemembers and veterans face unique challenges dealing with financial issues, managing their money, and avoiding scams. For servicemembers, frequent relocations mean regularly shopping for housing and buying or selling a car. And servicemembers and veterans alike will navigate important financial decisions, like paying for education. For military folks, these decisions can involve high stakes with long-term effects on family and day-to-day...

When your electricity goes out, you lose power in more ways than one. Daily necessities are out of reach without lights, warm water, and heat or air conditioning. So if you get a call from someone threatening to shut off your utilities because they say you owe money, you’re going pay attention – and you may even pay up. But not so fast. The caller might be an imposter running a utility scam. How can you tell? The caller wants you to send money –...