Markets Wired

April is Financial Literacy Month, and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has information to help you make the most of your money whether you’re a student, young adult, parent, older person, or military service member.

“There’s no time like the present to learn proven money-management skills,” said David C. Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Financial Literacy Month is an ideal time to learn – or teach others – the importance of consumers’ rights, and the best way to file a complaint if something goes wrong.”

Information from the FTC can help people explore how advertising affects them; understand credit, credit reports, and credit scores; get tips on how to protect their personal information and minimize the risk of identity theft; shop for a home loan; learn their rights when dealing with a debt collector; explore how advertising affects them; and much more.                            

• ftc.gov/moneymatters, offers short, practical tips, videos, and links to reliable sources on a variety of topics in English and Spanish, ranging from credit repair, debt collection, job hunting, and job scams to vehicle repossession, managing mortgage payments, and avoiding foreclosure rescue scams. 
• ftc.gov/freereports offers details about a consumer’s right to a free copy of his or her credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies, upon request, once every 12 months.  Reviewing one’s credit report regularly is an effective way to deter and detect identity theft.
• ftc.gov/youarehere is a virtual mall where kids experience the FTC’s mission by learning about advertising, competition, and how to protect their privacy.

All of the FTC’s financial literacy materials are in the public domain.  They can be
posted, reprinted, or adapted to educate people about their consumer rights.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.  To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP 1 877-382-4357).  The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.