Article from the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, November 18, 2025
Use this action plan to avoid scams
Scammers tell lots of different stories to try to get your money or personal information. They might lie and say you owe the government money. Or pretend to be your bank and say your account’s been hacked. They might claim someone in your family had an emergency or that your computer has a virus. Or they might tell a different lie.
Scammers tell you all these things to try to get you to panic. They want you to hurry and do what they say before you have time to think, check out their story, or reach out to someone who might intervene.
That’s where the FTC’s new tool, How I’ll Avoid a Scam: My Action Plan, can help. You can use it to make a list of people you trust — maybe your friend, neighbor, parent, daughter, or grandson — who you can reach out to if you think you might be dealing with a scammer. Talking it through can help you realize that something’s not right.
The Action Plan also has you list contact information for companies you do business with — like your credit card company, bank, and favorite online shopping sites — so you’ll know how to reach them directly if you’re worried there’s a problem with your account.
Scams can affect anyone at any time. So make your own action plan. Post it on your fridge or keep it near your phone or computer. Then help others in your life make one:
- Drop it off at your kid’s, parent’s, or grandparent’s house
- Hand it out to your colleagues, friends, and neighbors
- Share it at your church, local library, or community center
Order free copies to share here. And as always, if you spot a scam, tell the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
More articles:
Diane is a well respected Arizona bankruptcy and foreclosure attorney. As a retired law professor, she believes in offering everyone, not just her clients, advice about bankruptcy and Arizona foreclosure laws. Diane is also a mentor to hundreds of Arizona attorneys.
*Important Note from Diane: Everything on this web site is offered for educational purposes only and not intended to provide legal advice, nor create an attorney client relationship between you, me, or the author of any article. Information in this web site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from an attorney familiar with your personal circumstances and licensed to practice law in your state. Make sure to check out their reviews.*
In Case You Missed It
Published On: August 9, 2026
Debt-settlement companies promise to reduce what you owe, but creditors do not have to settle. Learn what federal regulators say about growing balances, lawsuits, fees, taxes and other debt-settlement risks before you stop paying your creditors.
Published On: August 8, 2026
Debt settlement companies promise relief from overwhelming debt, but creditors do not have to settle and lawsuits can continue. Learn about the hidden fees, growing balances, tax consequences, and alternatives before signing a contract.
Published On: June 26, 2026
Bankruptcy Is Not Just Paperwork: Some Simple Mistakes That Can Cost You For many people, bankruptcy is not the first choice. It is usually something they consider only after they have done everything they know [...]
Published On: May 25, 2026
Debt Decisions Have Consequences: Slow Down Before You Act When money is tight, fear can take over. You feel as if a debt storm has caught you. People may feel pressured to make fast decisions: [...]
