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If someone contacts you unexpectedly and tells you to buy gold bars and hand them to someone (anyone!) to “protect your money,” you’ve spotted a scam. Instead of doing what they say, stop. Want to know how these scams work and how to avoid them? Read on.

If you’re a servicemember, you’re probably used to moving around every few years. Whether you’re moving a few states away or to another country, you might need to break a lease, sell a car, or redirect your mail to a new address — all things involving your personal information. While planning your next big move, help protect your sensitive info from scammers.

In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people’s generosity. So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?

Got a letter in the mail from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) saying you owe money due to an overpayment of your benefits? You might be wondering: Was I really overpaid? How much do I need to pay back? To get real answers to questions like these, always start by logging into your VA.gov account.

Scammers are always “hiring” but don’t actually want to employ you. Instead, they want your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to spot and avoid a job scam.

You might get an email or text that seems to come from Apple, Microsoft, or Google, saying you’re out of storage. The message looks legit, and you might think there’s a chance you need more cloud space, but your scam-radar is going off. How can you be sure the link to upgrade isn’t a scam?

Have you gotten a call that looks like it’s from your local police department? Scammers are faking caller ID to impersonate local law enforcement, hoping to get you to pay. Learn how this scam works so you can avoid it.

Military servicemembers, veterans, and their families sacrifice a lot to keep our country safe. In the spirit of protecting those who’ve served, the Federal Trade Commission invites you to talk about scams with your battle buddies. Looking for ways to share what you know and protect someone else from a scam? The FTC’s got your six.

Scammers know that many people want to make money working from home. So they send emails, texts, or advertise jobs that claim you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time and effort. What do they really want? Your money or personal information.

If you want to use your driver’s license to fly, you’ll need a REAL ID. If you don’t have one yet, your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the place to go, and they’re only taking in-person appointments. But people are telling the FTC that scammers are pretending to be the DMV or another government agency. Reports say these “officials” are sending messages saying you can skip the line if you pay or give them information. Here’s how that scam works so you can avoid it.