MilConsumer Blog Feed

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation had more than 9.3 million veterans aged 65 and older in 2013. For most of us, Veterans Day means a time to thank all our former servicemembers. But it’s a sad truth that scammers operate out of greed, not gratitude. Not-so-honest people target older veterans and their families to cheat them out of their hard-earned benefits. In one type of scam, unscrupulous advisers claim to offer free help with paperwork for pension claims. But these attorneys, financial planners, and insurance agents persuade veterans over 65 to make decisions about their pensions without giving them the whole truth about the long-term consequences. They tell veterans to transfer their assets to a trust – or to invest in insurance products – so they can qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits. What they don’t say? The transaction could cause the veterans to lose eligibility for Medicaid services or the use of their money for a long time.

You walk out of a VA facility, and see a booth with people offering free phones and cell service for veterans, all thanks to a government program. It sounds compelling, right? “Free” might end up costing you a lot of money. The FTC has heard about booths like these — and what happens next. Months later, veterans who signed up for the program get notices saying they need to provide personal information and documents to prove they meet the income requirements — something the people pitching the program never mentioned. Many veterans find that their incomes are too high to qualify for the program, and face losing service or paying for something they thought would be free.

Are you a teacher looking for online safety resources to share with your students? You’re in luck. The FTC offers FREE resources on topics including cyberbullying, using public Wi-Fi safely, advertising literacy, downloading apps, protecting personal information online, and much more. We’ve got videos and games you can use in classrooms, and helpful print guides to share with students and their parents. You can order as many free materials as you need from ftc.gov/bulkorder. Allow 3-4 weeks for shipping (shipping is free, too). Added bonus: there are no copyright issues or permissions needed to use our information. Here are some popular materials teachers have told us they love to use:

Did you ever get an email that seemed legit, but it asked you to click a link or give up some personal information? Well, if you play massive multiplayer online games, be warned: phishers are looking for ways to get those emails into your inbox. Here’s how it goes:

Phone scammers spend their days making trouble. They waste our time, tie up our phone lines and harass us with ugly language. Some do much, much worse. The FTC has heard from people who got calls from scammers saying, “I’ve kidnapped your relative,” and naming a brother, sister, child or parent. “Send ransom immediately by wire transfer or prepaid card,” they say, “or something bad will happen.”

Recently, I told you about the new credit and debt chip cards designed to reduce fraud, including counterfeiting. Now, I'm reporting on scammers who are trying to take advantage of the millions of consumers who haven't yet received a chip card.

If you’ve ever had your information exposed in a data breach, you know it can be stressful. Depending on what information is exposed, you might have to cancel credit or debit cards, change online passwords, or even put a freeze on your credit. But what happens if your child’s personal information is exposed, too?

Coming to a wallet near you: new credit and debit chip cards. They’re part of a nationwide shift by major card issuers to offer added security against fraud. The new cards look like your old cards with one exception: they have a small square metallic chip on the front. The chip holds your payment data — some of which is currently held on the magnetic stripe on your old cards — and provides a unique code for each purchase. The metallic chip is designed to reduce fraud, including counterfeiting.

You know what would go great with your pumpkin spiced treats this October? Cyber security! Okay, now that I have your attention, October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it’s a great time to be #CyberAware. There are plenty of ways to participate.

Do you ever think about buying a franchise? Maybe you’ve heard of big opportunities and want to make a career change or build a business. Before you go further, know this: a franchise is like all investments – there’s no guarantee it will succeed. That’s why it’s important to do research and talk with franchisees and expert advisors before you invest. If you’re considering buying a franchise, the FTC has updated information to help you.