Con artists and scammers know no limits when it comes to using our big hearts against us. Here are some of the most appalling scams, schemes, and ploys being used today, and tips on how avoid becoming a victim.
The Federal Trade Commission just released a report on the credit reporting industry that could spell trouble for tens of millions of consumers: 25 percent of people had at least one error that could negatively impact their FICO credit score.
Four Loko -- the popular carbonated alcoholic drink being chugged on college campuses -- will change its alcohol facts panel to warn revelers that the drink contains the equivalent of four to five beers worth of alcohol.
Macy's, Amazon and Sears have all agreed to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars each in fines after the Federal Trade Commission busted them for passing off Rayon fabrics as genuine, environmentally friendly bamboo.
Frequent travelers know that extra airline fees have become the norm. But resorts and hotels make it even harder to figure out what your final bill is going to add up to. Now, the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection is fighting back on our behalf.
Experts predict the tab for Hurricane Sandy -- aka Frankenstorm -- will be in the billions of dollars. If your property gets damaged, proceed with caution: You don't want to get hit again, this time by home repair companies that jack up their prices, do a poor job, or walk away before the work is finished.
Those annoying prerecorded phone pitches known as robocalls aren't just getting on the nerves of millions of consumers: The government is fed up too, and it's turning to the public for help, offering a cash reward for the best way to stop the unwanted sales calls.
Google has agreed to pay a $22.5 million penalty to settle its dispute with the FTC over the company's role in bypassing browser settings in Apple's Safari web browser.
This is International Fraud Awareness Week, when various companies and nonprofit organizations work to educate people about how to avoid becoming victims of financial fraud. And we need the help: Last year, American consumers lost more than $1.7 billion to financial scams.
"When it comes to curing acne, there's no app for that," said Federal Trade Commission Chairman, Jon Leibowitz, in response to a settlement reached on Wednesday between the FTC and three men charged with misleading claims that their smartphone apps could get rid of pimples.
As part of its effort to crack down on scams that target Americans in financial distress, the FTC has sued more than 30 debt collection companies. On Wednesday, another one, Rincon Debt Management made the list and was shut down. Do you know your rights against abusive debt collectors?
It can be tough to reconcile the two images of Juliette Kimoto: Mrs. Nevada 2006 and stay-at-home mom; and Internet scammer whom the FTC says ran a $30 million con. In our exclusive interview, she tells her side of the story, both pointing the finger at her ex-husband and defending what he did as just "marketing."
When Juliette Kimoto took to the stage to accept her crown as Mrs. Nevada in 2006, she seemed an obvious fit for the coveted pageant title. What she declined to mention, however, was that she was also engaged in an online operation that would eventually rob tens of thousands of people of $30 million.
Millions of Americans fall victim to financial scams every year, and since the downturn began, many of those cons have been tailored to lure those suffering the most in our shaky economy: work-at-home schemes, fake mortgage modification services, fraudulent job opportunities and a host of unpleasant others.
Reebok's promise that its EasyTone and RunTone shoes could shape your legs and tone your butt sounded too good to be true. That's because they were, said the FTC Wednesday, when it ordered the footwear maker to give $25 million in partial refunds to customers who bought the products based on the inflated claims.