Free Consumer Protection Publications for Consumers About Scams and Frauds

Free Consumer Protection Publications

 About Email Scams, the Internet Frauds, Identity Theft and How to Report Frauds

Now you can get free, useful consumer information in the form of free, downloadable guides, fact sheets, booklets and how-to's from consumer protections organizations and state and federal government agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  This information is direct from the FTC's website! Just scroll down the page (unless you want information to protect your business, then see this page, Publications and information for Businesses)

Popular Free Publications:

General scam information

• Spotting, Avoiding and Reporting Scams
• Things you can do to avoid being scammed

Adult Content and Gambling

Auctions Scams on eBay, Craig's List, etc.

Automobiles and Truck buying, maintenance, loans, etc.

• Keys to Vehicle Leasing - Explains the differences between leasing and buying a car. Sample leasing form explains information required on a lease agreement, as well as buyer rights and responsibilities. 4"x9", 6 pages, color.
• Buying A New Vehicle (PDF)
• Buying A Used Vehicle (PDF)
• As Is Cars: Know the Warning Signs Poster (English)  
  (En Español)  (Chinese)  (Korean)

Charity scams

• Charity-frauds
• The Savvy Consumer's Checklist Donating Wisely (PDF)

Credit and Lending Issues

• Advance Fee Loans (PDF)
• Credit Cards (HTML) (PDF)
• Credit Reporting (HTML English) (PDF English) (PDF Polish)
• Informe Sobre el Credito (HTML) (PDF)
• Debt Collection (HTML) (PDF)
• FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) (PDF)
• How to Obtain a Free Credit Report (HTML) (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Looking for a Mortgage (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Home Owner Rights (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Lending Guide (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Loan Tips (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Loan Product Worksheet (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Rescue Fraud (PDF)
• Mortgage Rescue Fraud Brochure (PDF) (PDF Español)
• The Truth About Payday Loans (HTML) (PDF) (PDF Español)
• The Payday Loan Reform Act (PDF)
• Predatory Lending (PDF)
• Refund Anticipation Loans (Instant Tax Refund Loans) (HTML) (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Reverse Mortgages (PDF)

Dating scams

• Online dating scams

Debit Card and Automatic Debit Scams

• Automatic Debit Scams [TEXT] [PDF]
• Buying A New Vehicle
• Buying A Used Vehicle
• Truth in Auto Financing Brochure
  en Español

Diet and weight loss scams

•  Miracle Health Claims & Dietary Supplements Scams

Franchise Business Scams

Funeral scams and shopping for burial services

• Shopping for funeral services

Identity Theft

• Identity Theft: Taking charge
• Identity theft recovery plan
• Have You Heard About... Grandkid Scams?
  a quick reminder about how grandkid scams work and what to do about them

Investment Scams

IRS and tax scams

• IRS Imposter scams

Jobs / Employment Scams

• Background Checks: Tips For Job Applicants and Employees
  Applying for a job? Here's what to know about background checks and your credit report.

Lottery Scams

Malware and viruses

• OnGuard Online: Stop. Think. Click. [PDF] [en espa'ol] - Tips to help computer users be on guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information. 4"x9", 16 pages, color.
• Stop.Think.Click: 7 Practices for Safer Computing [PDF]
• OnGuard Online Bookmark [PDF] - Provides tips to help computer users be on guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information. 2.5"x7", 2 pages, color.
• OnGuard Online Poster [PDF] - Provides tips to help computer users be on guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information. 2.5"x7", 2 pages, color.

Small business scams

• Small business scams
• Using testimonials in advertising
• Rules about advertising and marketing on the internet

Shopping Online

Social Networks and Online Gaming

Spam

Tech support scams

• Tech support scams

Telemarketing and Phone Scams

Telephones - Unauthorized Charges

Telephone Services

Work at Home / Work from Home Scams

• Work at home businesses

 

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Your Rights and Laws to Protect Consumers

Consumer Alerts

Promotional Items

Articles You can reprint these articles in your newsletter, magazine or website.

And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive.  We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!

 

 

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For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.