Know your options.
Protect your money.
Free consumer protection resources. Learn where to report scams, check your credit, and access official recovery resources.
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Find the right resource faster
Select your situation, review trusted resources, and visit the appropriate website.
Choose your situation
Select the issue that best matches what happened, such as fraud, identity theft, phishing, suspicious charges, debt collection, or credit report concerns.
Review trusted resources
Read plain-English educational information and compare links to official government resources and selected third-party organizations.
Visit the appropriate website
When you click a resource, you may be taken to an official government website or an independent third-party website. Consumer Awareness Center does not collect fraud reports or identity theft reports directly.
Common consumer issues
Learn the warning signs in these six categories and where to find help.
Phone and Text Scams
Learn common warning signs used in phone and text scams, including impersonation tactics involving banks, government agencies, and utility companies.
Phishing and Email Fraud
Learn common signs of phishing emails, including suspicious links, urgent account warnings, fake invoices, and unusual sender addresses.
Billing and Subscription Issues
Learn about common billing and subscription issues, including where to find information about charge disputes, cancellation rights, and recurring charges.
Housing and Rental Fraud
Learn about common housing and rental fraud warning signs, including fake listings, impersonation scams, suspicious payment requests, and misleading rental offers.
Debt Collection Rights
The FDCPA gives consumers rights when dealing with debt collectors. Some violations may create legal rights or remedies, depending on the facts.
Identity Theft Recovery
Visit IdentityTheft.gov for official identity theft recovery steps and guidance from the federal government.
Where to report and get help
Consumer Awareness Center does not collect reports directly. Use these official resources to report fraud, check your credit, or get recovery guidance.
ReportFraud.ftc.gov ↗
Report fraud, scams, and bad business practices to the Federal Trade Commission.
FBI IC3.gov ↗
Report internet crime through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
IdentityTheft.gov ↗
Get official recovery steps for identity theft.
AnnualCreditReport.com ↗
Access your free credit reports through the authorized website.
Federal laws protect you. Know which ones apply.
Congress has passed consumer protection laws designed to hold businesses accountable and give you tools to fight back. Most people don't know when these laws apply to their situation.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Bans harassment, false statements, and unfair collection methods.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Gives you the right to dispute inaccurate items on your credit report for free.
Truth in Lending Act
Requires lenders to disclose full loan costs before you sign anything.
FTC Act Section 5
Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in commerce. The broadest consumer protection tool available.
Consumer questions
These answers are for general education only. For official reporting and recovery steps, visit the linked government resources.
How do I know if a call or email is a scam? +
Look for urgency pressure, unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), threats of arrest or legal action, and contact from an unverified source asking for personal information. Legitimate organizations do not demand immediate payment over the phone or ask for your Social Security number over an unverified channel.
I've already sent money. Is it too late to get it back? +
Not always. Credit card transactions can be disputed under the Fair Credit Billing Act for up to 60 days after the statement date. Bank wire transfers are harder to recover, but reporting within 72 hours to your bank and the FBI's IC3 gives you the best odds. File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and your state Attorney General simultaneously.
Can a debt collector really call my employer or family? +
Collectors can contact third parties only to locate you. They cannot discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney. If a collector calls your employer more than once, or discloses the debt to a family member, that is a violation of the FDCPA and you may be entitled to statutory damages plus attorney's fees.
What does "disputing a charge" actually accomplish? +
When you formally dispute a credit card charge, the issuer is required to investigate and provisionally credit your account within two billing cycles. The merchant must then prove the charge was valid. For credit report disputes, bureaus must investigate within 30 days and remove unverifiable information. Neither process costs you anything to initiate.
Is Consumer Awareness Center free to use? +
Yes. All educational resources, guides, and our scam-alert newsletter are completely free. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal representation. If your situation requires an attorney, we will help you identify a consumer protection lawyer in your state, many of whom work on contingency for FDCPA cases.