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Close to half a million people who bought Sensa, a sprinkle-on weight loss product, will share more than $26 million in refunds, thanks to the FTC. The money comes from the FTC’s settlement with Sensa’s marketers, who said their powder would help people lose weight. According to the FTC, the company didn’t have the scientific evidence they needed to back up the claims. The FTC is mailing checks to eligible consumers this week, and checks must be cashed within 60 days. If you have questions about the refunds, call 1-800-420-2914, or visit the FTC’s Sensa refunds page. And remember, the FTC never requires people to pay money or give personal information before they cash a refund check.

Mark Twain once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” If you live by this mantra, you might find yourself scrambling at the last minute to finish your holiday shopping this season. Enter the gift card. If you have gift cards on your shopping list, you’re not alone. Industry experts estimate gift card spending will top $32 billion this year – both for cards you can use at a specific store (think department store or coffee shop), and for bank or credit union cards that are accepted at many businesses (think Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and the like). When you’re giving gift cards, here are a few things to know:

Come hangout with Holly! Holly Petraeus joins the Government Services Administration’s own #AskMarietta for a Google Hangout on ways servicemembers and veterans can find help tackling debt, scams and fraud. Submit your questions to askmarietta@gsa.gov or using #AskMarietta on Twitter to get answers from Holly during the live event on Dec. 9 at 1 PM ET: http://bit.ly/1xOx6o8

Have you seen news reports about foreign websites showing live feeds from unsecured wireless cameras — like nanny cams, baby monitors, and security cameras — in the U.S. and around the world? It’s creepy stuff, but there are steps you can take to protect your camera from prying eyes.

“Free credit scores” sounds good, right? But what if you signed up for “free credit scores,” then found out you were enrolled in a credit monitoring program that costs $29.95 per month? Not so good. That’s what the FTC says happened with a company called One Technologies, Inc.

Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. Despite the nation’s gratitude to these heroes, there are some who would lie to make a buck off them.

T he SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help military personnel make more informed savings and investing decisions and avoid common scams. Below is a list of ten suggestions that may help military personnel – and any investor – make better investments and avoid fraud.

According to a recent survey, half of Americans dread holiday shopping. Whether you love or hate it, we’ll be in the thick of the season before you know it. Doing some advance planning can take the edge off that dread. If you’d like some tips on making the most of holiday shopping, join us for a Twitter chat with the Department of Defense's Military One Source, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Military Saves on Thursday, November 6 at 2:00pm, Eastern time.

You want to buy a car and need financing, but your credit isn’t so great. Most dealerships have a Finance and Insurance (F&I) Department that will tell you about their financing options. To get the process started, the F&I Department will ask you to complete a credit application, which includes your monthly income and information on current credit accounts, including debt you owe.

You want the best for your baby. So when you see an ad for formula that claims to help reduce the risk of your child developing allergies, you might be willing to give it a try. Well, hang on to your wallet. In its ads for Gerber Good Start Gentle, the company states, “ You want your baby to have your smile, your eyes… not your allergies. Gerber Good Start Gentle [is] easy to digest and may also provide protective benefits for your baby.” Does that mean that by using Good Start Gentle you can reduce the risk that your baby will develop the same allergies you may suffer from? Not quite, says the FTC.