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Type your name into a search engine and you may find a site offering your age, home address, phone number and the names of your relatives. Those sites are called people-search sites, and they are one kind of data broker. Their reports are useful to scammers and stalkers, and they make identity thieves' work easier. This guide explains how these sites work, how to ask them to stop selling your information, what you can realistically expect, and how to do it without handing over more data than necessary. It follows the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidance on people-search sites . What Data Brokers and People-Search Sites Do The FTC explains that companies known as data brokers collect information about us and sell or share it with others. People-search sites are a type of data broker. They may buy data from other brokers, collect details from public social media profiles, and compile information from federal, state and local government public records. The FTC lists public rec...

Few things worry people more than the idea that their Social Security number is being "suspended" or their Medicare coverage is about to end. Scammers know that, and they use official-sounding names, real employee names and spoofed phone numbers to make a call or text feel legitimate. This guide explains how these scams work, what the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare say about how they contact people, and what to do if you have already responded. It is useful for anyone, and especially for parents and grandparents who receive benefits. The Four Signs of a Scam The SSA describes four signs that apply to nearly every scam: The SSA's page on protecting yourself from Social Security scams lists the same warning signs. Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust. They say there is a problem or a prize. They pressure you to act immediately. They tell you to pay in a specific way. If a contact fits this pattern, ...

Tax season is prime time for criminals. They send fake IRS texts, leave threatening voicemails and file false tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. Some of the tricks are obvious. Others look very official. This guide explains how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says it contacts taxpayers, how to spot and report an impersonator, and how an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) can stop someone from filing a return in your name. Everything here is based on IRS guidance, and tax rules can change, so confirm details on IRS.gov for your situation. How the IRS Says It Contacts You According to the IRS, the first contact is normally a letter or notice sent by mail. The agency says it does not: send unexpected or unsolicited text messages; start contact by email, text message or social media; send messages asking for personal or financial information, especially about a tax refund. The IRS may call after it has mailed a notice, for example to confirm an appointment or disc...

Payment apps make it easy to split dinner, pay a babysitter or send money to family. That same speed is exactly why scammers like them. Once you send money, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns, it is like sending cash and it is very hard to get back. This guide covers the most common Zelle, Venmo and Cash App scams in the United States, the warning signs, settings that help, and what to do in the first minutes if you already sent money. Why Scammers Favor Payment Apps Payment apps connect to your bank account, debit card or credit card. The FTC explains that when you use Zelle, money moves from your bank account to someone else's, and that scammers like apps because they know a payment is hard to reverse. In a July 22, 2026 consumer alert , the FTC also noted that last year (2025) people reported their largest scam losses, more than $4 billion in total, to scams where they paid with bank transfers and cryptocurrency. The FTC says anyone who insists you can only pay by ban...

Last updated: October 13, 2026 Finding out that someone has used your name, Social Security number or account details is stressful, and it is tempting either to freeze or to try to fix everything at once. A calmer approach works better. Identity theft recovery is a sequence of fairly small tasks, done in the right order, and the first few hours matter most. This guide follows the order recommended by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which runs the official reporting site IdentityTheft.gov , and adds the federal rights that help you clean up your credit reports afterward. It is written for people in the United States and is general information, not legal advice. Signs Your Identity May Have Been Stolen The FTC lists several ways to tell whether someone is misusing your information: Charges for things you did not buy, or withdrawals you did not make. A bill you stopped receiving, which could mean someone changed your billing address. A new bill you did not expect. Accounts ...

If someone gets hold of your Social Security number, one of the first things they may try is opening a new credit card, loan or phone plan in your name. You usually do not find out until a collector calls or a lender turns you down. Two free tools can make that much harder: a credit freeze and a fraud alert. This guide explains what each one does, how they differ, and exactly how to set them up with the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The facts here come from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which publishes the official consumer guidance on both tools. What a Credit Freeze Does A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. While it is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name, including you. The FTC says there is no cost to place or lift a freeze, and it does not affect your credit score. It lasts until you lift it. You do not need to be a victim of identity theft to freeze your credit. The FTC says anyone can do i...