What Is Consumer Advice on consumer.ftc.gov?

consumer.ftc.gov is the official consumer education website of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency. It publishes plain-language guidance on scams, identity theft, and online safety, and it links to official tools for reporting fraud, reporting identity theft, and getting a free credit report. Use it when you want to check whether something is a scam, learn what to do after being scammed, or file a report with the FTC. It is an information and reporting site, not a place that resolves individual disputes or recovers money for you.

What the site is

The site is branded "Consumer Advice" and describes itself as the official website of the FTC, which states it has protected America's consumers for over 100 years. That government origin is the main reason to treat it as a trustworthy reference: the content is published by the agency itself rather than by a private company.

Its stated purpose is consumer protection information, organized around practical topics such as shopping and donating, identity theft, and online security.

What you can do there

The site groups its content into a few recurring functions:

• Read articles and guides on specific problems, such as what to do if you were scammed, or how to spot scammers pretending to be your utility company.
• Read consumer alerts about scams currently being reported, such as scammers impersonating farm equipment businesses.
• Report fraud through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Report identity theft and get a free credit report.
• Sign up for consumer alerts by email.
• Report platforms that fail to remove intimate images, via TakeItDown.ftc.gov, under the Take It Down Act.

The site also encourages "Pass It On" — sharing what you learn with others to help them avoid the same scams.

How to use it in practice

1. Identify the problem. If you suspect a scam, look for an article or alert matching the situation (for example, a fake utility bill or a fake equipment seller).
2. Follow the recommended action. Articles explain what to do if you paid a scammer, or if you gave someone your personal information or access to your computer or phone.
3. File a report if appropriate. Reporting goes through the FTC's dedicated reporting pages, and the site notes that reports help fight fraud and protect your community.
4. Check your credit if identity theft is involved, using the free credit report route the site points to.

Expected result: you get official guidance and, where relevant, a report on file with the FTC. Note that a report is not a case filed on your behalf — the site frames reporting as a way to help fight fraud, not as a guarantee of individual recovery.

A concrete example

Suppose someone calls claiming to be your gas or electric company and demands immediate payment. The site has an article specifically on scammers pretending to be your utility company, explaining how to spot the scam. You read it, recognize the pattern, and then use the reporting link if you want to flag it. That is the typical flow: learn the pattern, then report.

What it is not

• It is not a private review site or a blog — it is government-published consumer advice.
• It does not appear to charge for access; the site presents its articles, alerts, and reporting tools as consumer services. (No pricing is stated on the page, so treat any cost question as unconfirmed.)
• It does not act as your lawyer or recover your losses; it informs you and collects reports.

If your goal is to understand a scam, learn your options after being targeted, or file an official report, consumer.ftc.gov is the right starting point. If your goal is to resolve a specific dispute or get money back, expect to be directed to guidance and reporting rather than direct intervention.