Scams to watch out for: Robocalls, emails, fake concert tickets, imposter phone numbers and more
Our best tip guides to protect you and your family
Unless you live under a rock and talk to no one, you encounter the potential for scams every week, if not every day. You get an urgent call or text from your bank. You apply for a job. You want to buy a ticket to a concert or sporting event. You buy an item online without realizing it’s a counterfeit.
We focus a lot of time here at PIRG trying to help you spot, avoid and recover from scams. Here are some of our best tip guides.
Robocalls/robotexts
How to stop robocalls and robotexts and avoid scams
Credit freezes
How to easily freeze your credit, step-by-step
Data breaches
Worried about a data breach or identity theft? Here’s what to do now, soon and always
Fraudulent customer service phone numbers
Detecting a scam: How to avoid fraudulent phone numbers, emails and more
Social media
Social media scams: How to defend yourself against this emerging fraud
Imposters
Is this text, or call, or email, a scam?
Scammers impersonate Best Buy, Amazon, PayPal most
Counterfeit products
Counterfeit and stolen goods: Tips to avoid buying them online or anywhere
Natural disasters
After a hurricane or tropical storm: Watch out for repair scams, price gouging
Event tickets
Fake tickets, real heartbreak: Tips for fans to spot scams when buying concert, sporting tickets
Vacations
Avoid a vacation rental scam by watching out for these flags
Taxes
Tips to file your tax return while avoiding fees, scams
Telemarketing calls
Sick of robocalls about car warranties and business loans? Here are some tips
Flood-damaged vehicles
How to avoid used cars with flood damage
Toys
Smart toys: Tips to make sure smart speakers, smart watches, Roblox, drones aren’t invading your privacy
Privacy
Why privacy matters – even if you’ve got nothing to hide
One person’s tale:
Man lost $124,000 in Amazon scam. Here are 10 ways to keep it from happening to you
Topics
Authors
Teresa Murray
Consumer Watchdog, U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Teresa directs the Consumer Watchdog office, which looks out for consumers’ health, safety and financial security. Previously, she worked as a journalist covering consumer issues and personal finance for two decades for Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. She received dozens of state and national journalism awards, including Best Columnist in Ohio, a National Headliner Award for coverage of the 2008-09 financial crisis, and a journalism public service award for exposing improper billing practices by Verizon that affected 15 million customers nationwide. Teresa and her husband live in Greater Cleveland and have two sons. She enjoys biking, house projects and music, and serves on her church missions team and stewardship board.
Find Out More
Counterfeit products: How to tell whether you bought one
Scam charities: How to tell whether you’re donating to a good cause
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