A free public service

Attribution: US ftc.gov

June 23, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD gives all of us a chance to raise awareness about elder financial abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

An issue that continues to impact the wellbeing of people of all ages — including older adults — is scams. In 2025, elder people reported losing about $16 billion to scams, compared to $12.8 billion the previous year.

This year, the FTC is joining other government agencies, businesses, and organizations across the country to help raise awareness about the top reported scam: imposters. These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not — like someone from a government agency or well-known business — to trick you into giving them money or your personal information.

How can you help spread the word about imposters? Use the “Never Ever” campaign toolkit at ejcc.acl.gov, which has information and resources to help your friends, family, and community recognize, avoid, and report imposter scams. And know that:

• Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards.

Find more at ejcc.acl.gov. Use the campaign’s hashtags, #StopGovImposters and #StopBizImposters, to share what you know with others. And if you spot an imposter scam (or any other type of scam), report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

#

A free public service

June 14, 2026

Attribution: US FTC.gov

SCAMS BULETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney ib San Mateo County, California, USA.

Scammers can be very convincing. They call, email, and send us text messages trying to get our money or sensitive personal information — like our Social Security or account numbers. And they’re good at what they do. Here’s what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone. If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already. No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.

If You Paid a Scammer

Did you pay with a credit card or debit card?	Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?	Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you pay with a gift card?	Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card itself, and the gift card receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram?	Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.MoneyGram at 1-800-926-9400Western Union at 1-800-448-1492Ria (non-Walmart transfers) at 1-877-443-1399Ria (Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World transfers) at 1-855-355-2144
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank?	Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a money transfer app?	Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency?	Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction, if possible.
Did you send cash?	If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visit USPS Package Intercept: The Basics.If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible.

#

A free public service

Attribution: US FTC.gov.

June 8, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Medicare fraud, abuse, and unintentional errors can also contribute to medical identity theft, losing your benefits, and paying higher medical costs. So, what can you do to help fight Medicare fraud while protecting yourself and your community?

• Never share your Medicare number with someone who calls unexpectedly. Medicare won’t call or visit you at home to sell you anything. Medicare representatives will only ask for information if you contact them first.
• Review and report Medicare fraud and abuse. Spot mistakes or inconsistencies in your statements? Ask your medical provider or plan to explain. If you suspect fraud or abuse, call 1-877-808-2468 to reach your local Senior Medicare Patrol, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Report medical identity theft. If someone uses your information to get medical care or services, notify your provider or plan. And report the theft to IdentityTheft.gov to get a personalized plan to help you recover.
• Learn more about protecting and recovering from medical identity theft. Join the FTC, the Identity Theft Resource Center, and the Senior Medicare Patrol Program on June 5, 2026 at 11am ET for a special Facebook Live during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week.

Tell the FTC if you spot any other scams, fraud, or bad business practices: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

A free public service

Attribution: Federal Trade Comission FTC.gov

May 27, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Have you seen ads promising that a training or coaching program will help you build a thriving business or make significant money investing in markets like crypto, forex, or precious metals? Offers like these might sound exciting, but could be coaching scams in disguise. Do you know how to spot them?

Scammers promote training programs that claim to teach you how to succeed by investing in ecommerce businesses, financial markets, or real estate. They make it sound easy to make money and say, for a fee, they can show you how. But if they promise guaranteed income, large returns for little work, or say they have a “proven system to make money,” it’s likely a scam.

If you or someone you know is trying to start their own business and considering a coaching program, here are some things to keep in mind.

• Be wary of promises that you’ll make quick money. No one can guarantee you’ll make lots of money with little to no risk. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Take your time and talk to someone you trust. Scammers will pressure you to get involved now or “risk losing out.” Ask questions and get a second opinion about the business offer or coaching program from someone who has your best interests in mind.
• Do some research. Check with your state attorney general for complaints. If you don’t find any complaints it doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints might tip you off to possible problems.
• Read success stories and testimonials with skepticism. Glowing stories of success could be fake or misleading, and positive online reviews may have come from made-up profiles.

Have you spotted a business you think is a coaching scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.Have you seen ads promising that a training or coaching program will help you build a thriving business or make significant money investing in markets like crypto, forex, or precious metals? Offers like these might sound exciting, but could be coaching scams in disguise. Do you know how to spot them?

Scammers promote training programs that claim to teach you how to succeed by investing in ecommerce businesses, financial markets, or real estate. They make it sound easy to make money and say, for a fee, they can show you how. But if they promise guaranteed income, large returns for little work, or say they have a “proven system to make money,” it’s likely a scam.

If you or someone you know is trying to start their own business and considering a coaching program, here are some things to keep in mind.

Have you spotted a business you think is a coaching scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

May 16, 2026

Attribution: FTC.gov

A free public service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo, California. USA.

• Scammers contact you unexpectedly about a fraudulent charge. The call or text appears to come from your bank or a company you know. They say they’ve detected charges from Iran on your account (a lie). They transfer you to someone who says they work for a government agency like the FTC (that’s another scammer) who convinces you to share your bank account information. But the truth is government agencies will never ask you to share financial information. Learn more at ftc.gov/imposters.
• Scammers pretending to be a friend or love interest in the military ask for money. Perhaps you’ve been chatting for a while with someone you met online. Now they tell you they’re deployed to Iran. Suddenly you get an urgent request to send them money — maybe because they can’t access their bank account or they have a medical emergency. But that’s when you know you’re likely dealing with a romance scam.
• Scammers create fake charities that sound and look official. They might claim to help people displaced or affected by the conflict in Iran and pressure you to donate in cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Before you donate, go to ftc.gov/charity to learn how to research, what questions to ask, and how to spot a charity scam.

Act right away if you think you’ve sent money or given your information to a scammer, and report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

May 10, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

There’s a new text scam the FTC is hearing about. It involves fake recruiters offering fake jobs, stealing real money. Here’s how these scams work — and how to avoid them. 

The (fake) recruiters claim to be with legit companies you might know and say they’re hiring for jobs you can do from home like “online assessor” or just simply a “remote position.” They’ll often mention pay (sometimes daily or weekly rates) without any details on the actual job.

And in a new twist, instead of asking you to click a link, they’ll ask you to reply with “YES” or “INTERESTED.” Don’t do this, no matter how “professional” the graphics or message looks and sounds. They want you to engage so they can scam you.

Once they have your attention, they’ll come up with reasons you’ll need to send money. They might say they have a check you need to deposit — and then ask you to send them money back. (Don’t do this — it’s a fake check scam.) Or they might send you online tasks (like giving positive ratings or reviews) to earn money, but eventually they’ll ask you to deposit your own money. (Don’t do this either — it’s a task scam.)

To avoid job scams and fake recruiter scams:

• Ignore generic and unexpected texts, WhatsApp, or Telegram messages about jobs. Real employers will never contact you that way.
• Never pay to get paid or get a job. That’s a sure sign of a scam.
• Don’t trust anyone who says they’ll pay you to give a positive rating or like things online. No honest company will do that.

Learn more about spotting and avoiding scams at ftc.gov/scams. And report scams you see to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

A Free Public Service

Attribution: FTC.gov

April 29. 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Did you get a text with a picture of what looks like an official notice of a traffic hearing? You’re not alone. The FTC has seen a spike in reports about this text scam in the last month. It’s just the latest story of how scammers are trying to separate people from their money. Here’s how this scam works — and how to avoid it.

It starts with a text message with a QR code. The message says you need to scan it to pay for a traffic violation to avoid court. The text might look official with a seal from whatever state it claims to be from and a (fake) case number. It’ll tell you when your (fake) hearing is scheduled — date and time — and will give you two options: go to the (fake) hearing, or pay the fine now. More on that in a minute.

Scammers want you to act quickly, so the text will also list bad things that can happen if you don’t respond now: default judgements, fines, enforcement actions. All stuff to scare you into (supposedly) making it all go away by scanning the included QR code to settle your (fake) unpaid balance. If you scan it, they’ll try to steal personal information (like your Social Security or credit card number), download malware on your phone, and steal your money.

If you get a text like this, don’t respond, and don’t scan the QR code. If you think the message might be real, check the court’s website for case information or call the court directly — but use a website or phone number you know is correct, not info from the text message.

Already paid or gave your information to a scammer? Read What To Do if You Were Scammed to find out what to do next. And tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

April 19, 2026

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

You might be interested in making money through investments. Who isn’t? So offers that promise big returns might draw your attention…and scammers know this. They use those promises and clever schemes to lure you in and, unfortunately, people are losing big money on investment scams. In fact, FTC data shows reports of more than $7.9 billion in losses to investment scams, with a median individual loss of more than $10,000 in 2025. Do you know how to spot and avoid investment scams?

Scammers might reach you through social media, WhatsApp, or through online ads, promising you’ll make a lot of money quickly. These messages might also come from a friend or love interest offering you “coaching” to learn how to make a fortune in stocks, forex, or cryptocurrency. After you invest, they’ll often say your investments are doing well, maybe even showing fake “proof” that you’re making money. The reality? The investment isn’t real and you end up losing all your money.To avoid an investment scam:

• Remember that investments always involve risk. If anyone plays down the risk of an investment or acts like risk disclosures are just a formality you don’t need to worry about, keep your money. Those are scammers who want you to think their opportunity is risk-free when it’s not.
• Check out the reputation of the investment company, its officials, and its promoters. Search online with their name plus words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” Go through several pages of search results.
• Check for licenses and registrations. Many investment scams start with unlicensed people or unregistered firms, so use the free search tool on Investor.gov to check out anyone recommending or selling investments. For investments in precious metals or coins, check out the CFTC database.

Report investment scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

#

A Free Public Service

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

April 12, 2026

SCAMS BULLENTIN HOST Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Scammers say you need to click on a link to save your points or they’ll expire today. But if you click, they’ll try to steal your personal information (like your Social Security or credit card number) or download harmful software on your phone. 

If you receive a text like this, resist the urge to click. Firdt, check it out first. Go to the company’s website or app, but find it yourself. Don’t use any links from the text. Then check your rewards points. Are they really expiring?

Here are some other ways to protect yourself from phishing scams:

• Turn on filters on your phone. Adjust your settings, use carrier tools, or try a call-blocking app (some also help with texts) to limit how many unwanted texts you get.
• Update your phone’s software regularly. Updates often include critical patches and protections against security threats. These can come in handy if you accidentally do click on a phishing link.
• Report spam. Whether you have an Apple or Android phone, there are steps to report junk or spam. 

Notify US Federal Trade Commission FTC.gov of your experience.

#

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inaactive attorney in San Mateo County, Califoria, USA

A Free Public Service

Attribution: US FTC.gov

April 6, 2026

Mortgage assistance does exist, but scammers try to take advantage of homeowners looking to save their home. The scammers often call unexpectedly, promising to modify your mortgage or give you a way to avoid foreclosure — if you make a payment upfront.

But don’t pay. It’s illegal for companies to charge a fee before you get any services. Anyone asking you to pay upfront is giving you a warning that you might be dealing with a mortgage relief scam.Here are more signs of that scam:

• Scammers tell you to stop communicating with your lender…but you always have the right to contact your lender directly to see if you have other options.
• Scammers want you to pay them only by cashier’s check, wire transfer, or a mobile payment app because it’s hard to get your money back.
• Scammers try to convince you to transfer the deed to your home to them. But if you do, you probably won’t get it back.
• Need help managing your debt?
• Call the companies you owe money to right away. Explain why you’re having trouble paying and ask for a payment plan.
• Find legitimate help from housing counselors if you’re having trouble paying your mortgage, or find a credit counselor to help make a plan to repay your debt.

Tell the FTC about any mortgage relief scams you spot at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.

#