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Businesses and Consumers

Small Business Assistance and Information

Consumer Protection

Consumers are often a target of fraudulent and deceptive practices. Constituents can learn how to protect themselves by viewing information that helps them spot, stop, and avoid them.

  • Identity Theft
  • Credit and Loans(link is external) — Almost every day, you are involved in some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision, whether you are shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, checking the accuracy of your credit report, dealing with debt collectors, or looking for ways to protect your personal financial information. Many companies that solicit new credit card accounts and insurance policies use prescreening to identify potential customers for the products they offer. Visit the Federal Trade Commissions' website to learn more about credit and loan information and how prescreening works and what happens when you opt out.
  • Scams(link is external) — Stay a step ahead with the latest information and practical tips about scams from the nation’s consumer protection agency. Browse FTC scam alerts by topic or by most recent alert.
  • Cross-Border Fraud(link is external) — Phony job opportunities, postal job scams, bogus work-at-home schemes, and fake charities are among the many types of mail fraud schemes used to prey on consumers. Cross-border fraud is a serious problem that has resulted in consumers in the U.S. and other countries to lose billions of dollars each year.
  • “Do Not Call” Registry(link is external) — The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Learn more about the National Do Not Call Registry from the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)(link is external) — Passed by Congress in October 1998, requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue and enforce rules concerning children's online privacy. Learn more about keeping your kids safe online(link is external). Learn more about how to make sure your business is COPPA compliant(link is external).

More Consumer Information