Financial Tip of the Week

This Halloween, Don’t Get Ghosted by Scammers

By: Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Halloween is almost here. What could be scarier than not having your costume ready? How about ordering a costume online and never getting what you paid for? Scammers are making this season extra spooky by pretending to be real companies like Spirit Halloween and Party City. But it’s all a trick. Here’s what to know.

You see an ad on Facebook or Instagram that looks like it’s from a company like Spirit Halloween or Party City, promoting a huge clearance sale for “90% off” last year’s stock. It might look like an incredible deal — but the ad’s a fake placed by scammers. And if you place an order, you’ll end up with a counterfeit item, an item with wear or damage, something completely different than what you ordered…or nothing at all.

October 13, 2023:	Crypto Companies Touting FDIC Insurance? Not So Fast.
October 6, 2023:	That Friend Request Could Be From a Scammer
September 1, 2023:	Vetting a Business or Coaching Opportunity Before You Buy In
August 18, 2023:	How to Make Sure Your Donations Count When Weather Disasters Strike
July 28, 2023:	Joining Forces to help Stop Scam Calls
July 21, 2023:	Scammers Impersonate Delivery Service Support to Rip off Drivers and Restaurants
July 7, 2023:	CFPB Finds that Billions of Dollars Stored on Popular Payment Apps May Lack Federal Insurance
June 30, 2023:	Have You Been Getting Scammy Text Messages
May 26, 2023:	Scammers Are Hijacking Job Ads. Here’s How to Spot the Fakes
May 18, 2023:	Think You Owe Back Taxes? Read This
May 4, 2023:	Credit Card Debt Relief That Isn't
April 27, 2023:	It’s Financial Literacy Month: Learn How to Keep Your Money Safe from Scammers
April 21, 2023:	Make Big Money — Now
April 13, 2023:	Are You Really the Lucky Winner? Spot the Prize Scams
April 7, 2023:	Shopping Online? Here’s What to do When Things go Wrong
March 30, 2023:	Is it Really the IRS?
March 23, 2023:	What to Know About Auto Service Contracts and Extended Warranty Scams
March 16, 2023:	Crypto Investment Scammers are Targeting Your Community Groups
March 8, 2023:	This NCPW, Let’s Talk About Impersonation Scams
March 2, 2023:	The Top Scams of 2022
Feb. 17, 2023:	Looking for a job? Scammers might be looking for you
Feb. 8, 2023:	Don’t answer another online quiz question until you read this
Feb. 1, 2023:	Identity Theft Awareness Week events focus on how to reduce your risk
December 15, 2022:	’Tis The Season To Spot And Avoid Gift Card Scams
November 23, 2022:	Want To Get Rid Of Your Timeshare? Read This Before You Hire Someone To Help
November 4, 2022:	Spot And Avoid Home-Related Fraud This Winter
September 22, 2022:	Payment Processor’s Sales Pitches Tricked Small Business Owners
September 8, 2022:	Contacted About A Long-Lost Relative’s Inheritance? Hold On A Minute
August 25, 2022:	Selling Stuff Online? Here’s How To Avoid A Scam
August 11, 2022:	Don’t Click On That Random Text. It’s A Scam
August 4, 2022:	Job Hunting? Look Out For Phony Job Postings
July 27, 2022:	Military Families Combat Identity Theft Amid Life Transitions
July 20, 2022:	Defending Against Impersonator Scams
July 7, 2022:	July Is Military Consumer Month
June 28, 2022:	Spotting The FTC’s Most Reported Crypto Scams
May 18, 2022:	Share FTC Materials on Fraud Here, There and Everywhere
May 10, 2022:	Shutting Down Tech Support Scams
May 3, 2022:	Avoid A Scammer’s Money Grab During Older Americans Month
April 20, 2022:	How Do You Spot A Scam? Listen To How Someone Tells You To Pay
April 6, 2022:	It’s National Financial Literacy Month: Protect Yourself From Scammers
March 30, 2022:	Cybersecurity Advice To Protect Your Connected Devices And Accounts
March 23, 2022:	FTC Says Credit Repair Operation Fleeced Its Clients
March 16, 2022:	Scammers Pretend To Be The FTC Again
March 7, 2022:	National Consumer Protection Week
Feb. 15, 2022:	How to tell If Someone Is Using Your Identity
Feb. 2, 2022:	FTC Names 25 Sellers Who Must Stop Making Unsubstantiated COVID Treatment Claims
Jan. 26, 2022:	Pause on Federal Student Loan Payments Extended
Jan. 19, 2022:	New Crypto Payment Scam Alert
Jan. 12, 2022:	How to Avoid Buying Fake COVID Tests Online
Jan. 5, 2022:	Keep Your Personal Information Safe in The New Year
Aug. 4, 2021:	Your Guide to Protecting Your Privacy Online
July 28, 2021:	Timeshares: Yes? No? Maybe?
July 21, 2021:	Don’t Send Them Money
July 14, 2021:	Targeting the Troops- Military Consumer Month
July 7, 2021:	Shopping online? Know your retailer and your rights
June 30, 2021:	Hot rental car market = scams
June 23, 2021:	What to know before you buy something online
June 16, 2021:	More money is coming to families…and scammers are ready
June 9, 2021:	Tips for consumers on manufacturer repair restrictions
June 2, 2021:	Spotting cryptocurrency investment scams
May 26, 2021:	Let’s Talk About Coronavirus Scams
May 19, 2021:	Share Financial Tips with Senior Citizens for Older Americans Month
May 12, 2021:	Block and Report Unwanted Calls
May 5, 2021:	Scammers target loved ones of COVID-19 victims
April 28, 2021:	COVID Vaccines Are Not for Sale!
April 21, 2021:	April is Financial Literacy Month
April 14, 2021:	Don’t let job scams block your path forward
April 7, 2021:	Scammers reportedly using fake unemployment benefits websites as phishing lures
March 31, 2021:	Ignore bogus COVID vaccine survey
March 24, 2021:	Free weekly credit reports during COVID extended until April 2022
March 17, 2021:	Scams will follow new COVID-19 rescue plan
March 10, 2021:	The Drug Enforcement Administration isn’t calling
March 3, 2021:	Helping Your Friends and Loved Ones Avoid Scams During COVID-19
Feb. 24, 2021:	National Consumer Protection Week starts on February 28
Feb. 17, 2021:	Coronavirus relief continues for housing and student loans
Feb. 3, 2021:	Tax Identify Theft Awareness Week
Jan. 27, 2021:	Tax Identify Theft Awareness Week is coming
Jan. 20, 2021:	Target for new COVID scam: Small Business Owners
Jan. 13, 2021:	Does Your Health App Protect Your Sensitive Info?
Jan. 6, 2021:	Stimulus Payments are for People, not Nursing Homes
Dec. 22, 2020:	12th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 21, 2020:	11th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 20, 2020:	10th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 19, 2020:	9th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 18, 2020:	8th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 17, 2020:	7th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 16, 2020:	6th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 15, 2020:	5th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 14, 2020:	4th Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 11, 2020:	3rd Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 10, 2020:	2nd Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 9, 2020:	1st Day of Consumer Protection
Dec. 8, 2020:	Help Friends/Relatives Avoid a Scam
Dec. 2, 2020:	Fake Lysol and Clorox websites
Nov. 18 2020:	Help Veterans Avoid Scams
Nov. 11, 2020:	Temporary Stop of COVID-19 Evictions
Nov. 4, 2020:	How to Spot, Avoid & Report Imposter Scams
Oct. 28, 2020:	Scams that Start on Social Media
Oct. 21, 2020:	Small Businesses Targeted
Oct. 14, 2020:	Are you Receiving Collection Calls for Old Debt?
Oct. 7, 2020:	Fake Check Scams & Your Small Business
Sept. 30, 2020:	Financial and Other Tips for Disasters
Sept. 23, 2020:	Financial Tips if You are Raising Grandchildren
Sept. 14, 2020:	Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks
Sept. 7, 2020:	Those Free COVID-19 Money Offers on Social Media are Scams
Aug. 31, 2020:	Tips to Help You Avoid Post-Disaster Scam
Aug. 24, 2020:	“You’ve Won! Now Pay Us” is Always a Scam
Aug. 17, 2020:	Getting Unordered Seeds & Stuff in the Mail?
Aug. 10, 2020:	Going Shopping? Don't Get Shortchanged
Aug. 3, 2020:	Protecting Your Small Business
July 27, 2020:	Protecting Your Identity!
July 20, 2020:	Spotting Red Flags!
July 13, 2020:	Shopping Online? Watch This Video First
July 6, 2020:	It’s Military Consumer Month 2020
June 29, 2020:	Protection for Renters During COVID-19
June 22, 2020:	Paying, and Paying, and Paying Payday Loans
June 15, 2020:	Stimulus Funds Debit Card instead of EIP Debit Card
June 8, 2020:	Is a Scammer Getting Unemployment Benefits in Your Name?
June 1, 2020:	COVID-19 Ruined My Travel Plans. How do I Get Back My Money?
May 25, 2020:	Credit Reports Are Now Free, Every Week
May 18, 2020:	A Tool for Cutting Expenses
May 11, 2020:	Have You Received Your Economic Impact Payment?
May 4, 2020:	May 5 Deadline for Some SSI and VA Beneficiaries with Kids
April 27, 2020:	Avoiding SSA Scams During COVID-19
April 20, 2020:	Dealing With Debt Collectors During COVID-19
April 13, 2020:	Coronavirus and Your Mortgage
April 6, 2020:	While You Are Home, Spot the Scams

Financial Tip of the Week

Financial Tip of the Week

Share This

Text/Email Payment Reminder

Financial Tip of the Week

View Parcels on a GIS Map

Contact Us

Property Change of Address Form