Latest Scams & Rip-Offs

Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places
Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places Protect Your Rights & Identity November 11th, 2022
When should you give your Social Security number and when should you not? Giving out your Social Security number is…
Magnifying glass inspecting phone
12 Dangerous Scam Phone Numbers and Area Codes To Avoid Scams & Rip-Offs October 13th, 2022
How many times have you heard the phone ring but didn't want to pick it up because it could be…
4 Common Scams on Cash App, Venmo and Zelle (and How To Avoid Them!)
4 Common Scams on Cash App, Venmo and Zelle (and How To Avoid Them!) Scams & Rip-Offs September 20th, 2022
Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment sites let you transfer money from your bank account or credit card account to someone else using…
Scam Alert: Think Twice Before Scanning QR Codes
Scam Alert: Think Twice Before Scanning QR Codes Scams & Rip-Offs July 21st, 2022
Quick Response codes (QR codes) are all around us. From restaurant menus to advertisements to sporting events, codes are a…
How To Avoid a Tricky New Home Energy Audit Scam
How To Avoid a Tricky New Home Energy Audit Scam Scams & Rip-Offs May 13th, 2022
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that a new scam uses homeowners' energy bills to target them, and falling for…
Landline phone
The One Time Clark Howard Got Ripped Off Scams & Rip-Offs February 8th, 2022
Saving money is a way of life for money expert Clark Howard, and that’s why he spends so much time…
How To Avoid Common Social Security Scams
How To Avoid Common Social Security Scams Scams & Rip-Offs January 11th, 2022
Social Security scams are a major issue and can be extremely dangerous for your wallet. How common is it? AARP…
Ask Clark money column
I Recently Took a $25 Webinar That Turned Into a $5,000 Sales Pitch. How Do I Know if It’s a Scam? Scams & Rip-Offs July 7th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. A $25 Webinar on…
Scam Alert: Don’t Fall for This Fake Package Delivery Text
Scam Alert: Don’t Fall for This Fake Package Delivery Text Scams & Rip-Offs December 15th, 2020
If you're among the millions of online shoppers waiting for packages to be delivered to your door this holiday season,…
pretexting scam
Warning: Watch Out for This Bill Scam Scams & Rip-Offs August 20th, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has many people worried about their finances and trying to hang onto every penny. Money expert Clark…
Area Codes IRS Scam Calls
Scam Alert: Beware of Phone Calls From These Area Codes Scams & Rip-Offs August 11th, 2020
IRS scammers are up to their old tricks again! One of the most common phone scams every year happens when…
3 Warning Signs of a Telemedicine Scam
3 Warning Signs of a Telemedicine Scam Scams & Rip-Offs August 5th, 2020
The use of elemedicine has exploded this year. But so have telemedicine scams. To keep your wallet in good health,…
Roku remote device used in setup
Being Asked to Pay to Set Up Your Roku Device? It’s a Scam Mobile & Electronics June 3rd, 2020
So you've purchased a Roku device and can't wait to watch all the TV shows, movies and other content you…
Scam Alert: How to Avoid Fake Coronavirus Tests
Warning: Scam Targets People Trying to Get COVID-19 Tests Scams & Rip-Offs May 21st, 2020
If you’re one of the many people trying to get a COVID-19 test due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first…
Coronavirus Scams: How to Protect Yourself
Coronavirus Scams: How to Protect Yourself Scams & Rip-Offs April 2nd, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic isn't just creating anxiety across the nation and much of the world, but also new opportunities for…
Scam Alert: Why You Should Never Abbreviate 2020
Scam Alert: Why You Should Never Abbreviate 2020 Scams & Rip-Offs January 6th, 2020
It may be a new year, but criminals are up to their old tricks in new ways — and one…
Index Annuities Are Poison for Your Pocketbook
Index Annuities Are Poison for Your Pocketbook Insurance January 1st, 2020
For years, Clark has warned people about something known as index annuities. They're one of the hottest products in the…
Can Credit Repair Companies Really Raise Your Score?
Can Credit Repair Companies Really Raise Your Score? Money & Credit January 1st, 2020
The promise of credit repair outfits is an alluring one — they say they'll remove bad credit marks from your…
Drivers License Online
Don’t Make This Big Mistake When You Renew Your Driver’s License Scams & Rip-Offs October 9th, 2019
Renewing your driver's license used to be kind of a pain. It almost always involved a trip to the DMV…
Watch out for this Medicare phone scam
Warning: Watch out for this new Medicare phone scam Scams & Rip-Offs August 29th, 2019
Older Americans are being targeted by scam callers that ask for the personal information found on Medicare cards, a government…
Using a voice assistant to make calls? Here's how not to get scammed
Using a voice assistant to make calls? Here’s how not to get scammed Scams & Rip-Offs August 22nd, 2019
The Better Business Bureau is warning that voice search scams are on the rise as criminals have found a way…
Fake scam websites: How to avoid
Warning: Beware of fake airline sites when booking travel Scams & Rip-Offs August 15th, 2019
The hurry associated with booking an airline ticket can have disastrous results if you're not careful. That's because fake airline…
Approached by a parking lot repairman? How to avoid dent repair scams - Dent repair scam how to avoid
Warning: Scammers are targeting people in parking lots Scams & Rip-Offs August 12th, 2019
An old scam is back on the streets and people are still falling for it. The dent repair scam works…
Worst area codes for spam calls: Report
The 10 worst area codes for spam calls: Is yours on the list? Scams & Rip-Offs June 26th, 2019
Are you getting bombarded with spam calls on your cell phone? You're not alone. A new report from call blocker…
Google calendar phishing scam: How to avoid it
Avoid Google Calendar phishing scams with these 4 steps Scams & Rip-Offs June 18th, 2019
A new scam targeting people who use Google Calendar makes them vulnerable to phishing attacks. Criminals have figured out a…
Credit card statement - This scam is another reason to check your credit card statements
Check your credit card statements for these bogus charges now Scams & Rip-Offs June 5th, 2019
Criminals are using Apple iTunes purchases to steal from unsuspecting consumers, according to news reports. The way this particular crime…
How to stop junk calls on your landline - The government is finally getting serious about robocalls
How to stop junk calls on your landline phone Scams & Rip-Offs May 30th, 2019
We've told you how to stop junk calls on your cell phone, but you may be having the same problem…
USPS change of address scam: How to spot it
USPS change of address scam: How to spot and avoid it Scams & Rip-Offs May 24th, 2019
If you're relocating into a new apartment or home, you need to be aware of a relatively new version of…
Microsoft Windows tech support scam call: 4 ways to protect yourself
Watch out for this Microsoft Windows tech support scam Scams & Rip-Offs May 7th, 2019
A particular type of scam phone call is making the rounds again and victimizing unsuspecting people. This time, it's the…
Scam Alert: Do Not Answer Calls or Texts From These Area Codes
Scam Alert: Do Not Answer Calls or Texts From These Area Codes Scams & Rip-Offs May 6th, 2019
If you receive a call or text message on your cell phone from an unfamiliar area code, proceed with caution!…