Scams and Fraud Prevention
Fraud and scams target millions of Americans yearly, from personal finances to government benefits. Federal agencies provide tools and guidance to spot, avoid, and report these threats, helping you protect your money, identity, and resources.
Protecting Your Finances and Shopping
Watch for financial traps like predatory lending disguised as helpful loans. Investors can rely on SEC protections against Wall Street fraud. Holiday shoppers should follow tips to avoid online shopping scams.
Safeguarding Government Benefits
Scammers eye benefits programs. Learn to protect yourself from Social Security fraud and report it. Medicare users have a guide to reporting fraud, waste, and abuse, while HHS benefit scams require vigilance. Post-disaster, identify and report FEMA fraud.
Combating Mail and Education Scams
Mail fraud is common—report it to USPS, know unsolicited mail rights, and spot real USPS employees and vehicles. Postal Inspectors tackle mail crimes. For education, spot legitimate online colleges and avoid diploma mills. Report issues via FTC channels.
An Independent Team to Decode Government
Our articles are referenced by .gov and .mil websites as well as trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill, and USA Today.