RESOLVE TO BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER

As you jot down your list of resolutions for 2012, why not consider a few to help you become more empowered in the marketplace?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other NCPW partner agencies and organizations, offer free resources on a variety of topics to help you make informed consumer decisions.  In fact, there’s pretty much a resource for every resolution you can think of along those lines.

Try these out:

“I will get my financial house in order.” The FTC’s Money Matters site  features detailed tips on a wide range of topics — from budgeting to managing financial crises.

“I will take steps to keep myself and my kids safe online.”  OnGuard Online.gov is a great place to find out everything you need to know about online and mobile safety.  For the younger people in your life, the NetCetera toolkit is a terrific resource to help kids handle cyberbullying, guard personal information, and stay safe while exploring the internet.  In addition, Living Life Online is the go-to resource for young people to understand how to make smart choices online.

“I will avoid identity theft.” The FTC received well over 200,000 identity theft complaints in 2010 alone.  You can help protect yourself from identity theft by following the few simple steps outlined on this site.

“I will report scams and fraud.”  Consumer complaints help the FTC and law enforcement detect patterns of wrongdoing and can lead to investigations and prosecutions.  To file a complaint with the FTC, go to ftc.gov/complaint or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).  Or watch this VIDEO.

Need more help?  Contact us 24/7 at 1-800-263-9091 for more information about consumer protection.