Citizens Blog

Whether you’re a college student prepping for the fall semester, a high school student getting ready for a new school year or the parent of a student of any age, beware these trending back-to-school scams!

Hello, summer! It’s the season of flip-flops and ice pops, of sun-drenched afternoons and lazy days at the beach. And, unfortunately, summertime is also prime time for scammers.

The Child Tax Credit, a part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that takes effect in July, is already drawing the attention of scammers. The newly expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) will provide monthly payments of up to $300 per child for approximately 40 million households across the country. Payments will be issued via direct deposit, paper check, or debit cards, providing a plethora of opportunities for scammers to get in on the action.

Your phone pings with an incoming text. You swipe it open to find a message from the USPS. They’re texting to let you know that the scheduled delivery time for your package has been changed. Unfortunately, though, the message is not from the USPS and you’ve just been targeted by a scam. Here’s what you need to know about the USPS smishing text scam.

Spring is here, and lawn-care scams are sprouting like mushrooms after rain. And unlike that brown spot in the grass, they’re not easy to see. Here’s what’s important to know about these scams and how to stay safe.

It’s stimulus season and tax season at the same time, and scammers couldn’t be happier. The IRS is warning of a surge in scams as the tax agency continues processing tax returns and distributing stimulus payments to eligible adults. Here’s all you need to know about the latest round of scams.

Another phone call, another scam. It’s not just you, those robocalls just won’t stop! More than just an annoyance, scam calls cost 56 million Americans a financial loss in 2020. One of the most common scams over the phone is the auto warranty scam. Here’s all you need to know about it.

This year in particular, many Americans are struggling to shed the “quarantine 15." Unfortunately, scammers know this and they are out in full force, trying to scam consumers. Gyms aren’t far behind, with many of them offering misleading contracts that are impossible to get out of once they’re signed.

Scammers famously exploit high-stress times, and the pre-holidays shopping frenzy is no exception. That’s why the BBB is warning of an uptick in holiday toy scams which can be difficult to spot.

Here’s what you need to know about these scams.

With the pandemic still wreaking havoc on the economy, many people are struggling to pay their monthly bills and meet their debt payments. Unfortunately, scammers are exploiting the financial downturn by tricking unsuspecting victims into paying for debts that don’t actually exist, or by using abusive tactics to collect legitimate debts.

Don’t be the next victim of a debt-collection scam. Here’s all you need to know about these scams.