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By Colleen Tressler, Division of Consumer and Business Education, Federal Trade Commission

As the nation’s consumer protection agency, the FTC works to stop fraud, deception, and unfair business practices. This is done in several different ways.

  • Enforcement – The FTC conducts investigations, sues companies and people that break the law, and tries to get money back to people whenever possible.
  • Consumer and Business Education – The FTC creates plain language, actionable information online, in print, and on video. By carefully targeting the language, look, and approach of our advice and information, we ensure each audience knows the message is for them and their community.
  • Building Partnerships and Coalitions – Working with thousands of partner organizations nationwide, we deliver information into the hands of millions of consumers and businesses who need it.

FTC offers the latest on spotting and reporting scams at ftc.gov/MoneyMatters

Especially with the economic impact of the pandemic, chances are you know a young person who’s advancing their education, searching for a job, looking for a place to live, applying for a loan, or facing another big financial decision. Helping them spot, avoid, and report scams just got a little easier with the FTC’s new website, ftc.gov/MoneyMatters.

At Money Matters, you’ll find information and resources to teach others how to tackle common money issues head on, as well as how to spot, avoid, and report related frauds and scams that can affect their financial well-being.

For many people, a top New Year’s resolution is to keep a closer eye on their personal finances – a goal more important than ever, given the economic impact of the pandemic. And as people work to regain their financial footing, the topic areas below are where consumers have been injured by deceptive practices or outright fraud.

Featuring articles, videos, social media shareables, and sample presentations, Money Matters focuses on eight areas related to significant dollars-and-cents decisions:

  • Credit Reports – Explains how information in a credit report affects a person’s ability to get a loan, a job, housing, insurance, and more.
  • Buying or Renting a Home – Offers information about rental assistance, rental listing scams, mortgages, and mortgage relief scams.
  • Avoiding a Scam When Looking for a Job – Gives advice to help spot, avoid, and report job scams, MLMs and pyramid schemes.
  • Borrowing and Debt – Offers information about different types of loans, getting out of debt, credit counseling, and scams related to loans and debt.
  • Education and Training – Shares advice for choosing a college or vocational school, paying for school, and avoiding scams, including student debt relief scams.
  • Your Rights When Shopping – Offers information about online and comparison shopping, payment arrangements like rent-to-own, lease-to-own, layaway, and buying over time, and advice about solving problems, and what to do if you were scammed.
  • Buying and Owning a Car – Gives advice on shopping for and buying a new or used car, financing options, and repossession.
  • Prizes and Grants – Explains how to spot, avoid, and report fake prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams and government grant scams.

Find us in the Jump$tart Clearinghouse!

The FTC’s Every Community Initiative

Outreach is an integral part of the FTC’s work to protect consumers in all communities. The FTC has grown its outreach efforts to reach communities of color by listening to and working with trusted sources in those communities to deliver consumer protection messages in an effective way. We’re

  • Convening community partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders across the country, including ethnic media, to build and strengthen partnerships, learn about consumer protection issues communities are facing across the country, and encourage networking and further collaboration among the partners and with the FTC.
  • Working with national groups like the NAACP and the Legal Services Corporation to reach communities of color, but also with local organizations like faith-based groups, housing organizations, libraries, and Tribal community leaders.
  • Creating education materials in multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Russian, and working with partners to get these resources to people that need information in their language.
Share Money Matters Resources
When people learn about scams from folks they trust, they’re less likely to lose money to fraud. Help the people you serve know how to spot, avoid, and report scams: share Money Matters. It’ll make a difference.

  • Give presentations in the classroom and your community. It’s easy with ready-to-go presentations on everything from credit to car-buying.
  • Subscribe to the FTC’s consumer alerts delivered right to your email inbox.

Contact:
Colleen Tressler
ctressler@ftc.gov

We are excited to announce the dates for our 2023 Financial Literacy Month events. The Jump$tart team is preparing for another exciting Partner meeting, State Coalition meeting, Awards Luncheon and the gift of fellowship with one another. Partners and Coalition leaders, please save the date for “Designing A Financial Future” this April 24-25 at the Park Hyatt in Washington DC.