Consumer Fraud Awareness and Prevention
Consumer fraud impacts millions of Americans every year and often results in financial harm. Learn about the most common types of consumer fraud, how each type works, the warning signs, and how to protect yourself and others.
This fraud involves the unauthorized use of a person’s checks.
Consumer Product and Retail Fraud
This fraud involves the purchase or sale of goods, often through deceptive marketing or counterfeit products.
Credit Card and Debit Card Fraud
This fraud involves the unauthorized use of a person’s credit card or debit card to make purchases or withdrawals.
In this type of fraud, scammers impersonate legitimate debt collectors to scare consumers into paying debts that may not exist.
Elder financial exploitation involves the theft or misuse of an older adult’s money, assets, or personal information.
Financial and Investment Fraud
This fraud involves deceitful practices to lure individuals into fake investments, often by promising returns that are too good to be true.
These scams tend to increase during the holiday season, targeting consumers by making false promises or engaging in fraudulent schemes involving gift cards.
Identity theft occurs when someone illegally obtains and uses your personal or financial information without your knowledge, often leading to significant financial harm.
Imposter scams involve fraudsters pretending to be someone you trust, such as a government official or a company representative, to steal your money or personal information.
This is fraud targeting homeowners, often through misleading terms or fraudulent loan applications. Mortgage fraud involves deceit or misrepresentation in the origination or funding of a mortgage loan.
Online and digital fraud occurs via the internet, often through deceptive emails, websites, or messages that trick people into providing personal information or money.
Top Tasks
Fight Back Against Identity Theft
Apply for a Free Annual Credit Report
Get answers to questions and file a complaint at HelpWithMyBank.gov