With scammers getting more sophisticated, especially with the rise of online services, it can be hard to know how to protect yourself.  But don’t worry – there are tons of resources out there to protect the consumer (that’s you).  Below, we’ve rounded up some useful sites for learning how to spot scams and how to report them once you do.

Federal Trade Commission Scam Alerts

The Federal Trade Commission exists just to protect you.  They provide updates on recent scams, teach you to recognize scam red flags, and offer an email newsletter so you can stay informed.

Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker

You may know the Better Business Bureau as a place to check out a business’s reputation, but did you know they also track scams?  You can view the latest scams in your area, see recent scam attempts, or even report businesses or offers that seem fishy.

Free Credit Report

You can pull one report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) for free each year. This is your right according to federal law. You can choose to pull all three reports at once, or you can space them out (for example, pull one report every four months) to monitor your credit continually. Here's what to look for when you review your reports according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Click below to pull your free reports and learn more about your credit. (Still a bit confused on how to read your report? Download a free guide to reading your credit report, or call one of GreenPath's certified credit counselors to go over your report with you.)