U.S. flag
          An official website of the United States government
            Here’s how you know
          Here's how you knowDot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**
                
                Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
          Https**The site is secure.**
                
                The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

    
          Translation Menu
  

        
EspañolSecondary Menu
  

        
    
    Report Fraud
                                
                          
        
                Sign Up for Consumer Alerts
                                
                          
        
                Search the Legal Library **
Menu


    close


                  Main Menu Mega
  

        
  
  Show/hide Enforcement menu items
              Enforcement

We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices.

View Enforcement

  Search or browse
the Legal Library

Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law.

Browse legal resources

Search small Search
    
          Sections
  

        


      Cases and Proceedings
                              Premerger Notification Program
                              Merger Review
                              Anticompetitive Practices
                              Rulemaking
                              Statutes
                              Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents
                              Warning Letters
                              Consumer Sentinel Network
                              Criminal Liaison Unit
                              FTC Refund Programs
                              Notices of Penalty Offenses
                              Competition Matters Blog
    
          Take action

Report an antitrust violation
File adjudicative documents
Find banned debt collectors
View competition guidance

  Competition Matters Blog
            
          Competition Matters

  Slack, Google Chats, and other Collaborative Messaging Platforms Have Always Been and Will Continue to be Subject to Document Requests

January 26, 2024
    
                      View all Competition Matters Blog posts
      
    Show/hide Policy menu items
              Policy

We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition.

View Policy

  Search or browse
the Legal Library

Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law.

Browse legal resources

Search small Search
    
          Sections
  

        


      Advocacy and Research
                              Advisory Opinions
                              Cooperation Agreements
                              Federal Register Notices
                              Reports
                              Public Comments
                              Studies
                              Testimony
                              Policy Statements
                              InternationalTake action

Find policy statements
Submit a public comment
    
          Feature
        
    
Vision and Priorities

Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC.

Learn more

  Technology Blog
            
          Technology Blog

  Tick, Tick, Tick. Office of Technology’s Summit on AI

The Office of Technology


January 18, 2024
    
                      View all Technology Blog posts
      
    Show/hide Advice and Guidance menu items
              Advice and Guidance

Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business.
    
          Take action

Report fraud
Report identity theft
Register for Do Not Call
Sign up for consumer alerts
Get Business Blog updates
Get your free credit report
Find refund cases
Order bulk publications
    
          Consumer Advice

Shopping and Donating
Credit, Loans, and Debt
Jobs and Making Money
Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
Identity Theft and Online Security
Scams
    
          Business Guidance

Advertising and Marketing
Credit and Finance
Privacy and Security
By Industry
For Small Businesses
Browse Business Guidance Resources
Business Blog

  Servicemembers:
Your tool for financial readiness

Visit militaryconsumer.gov
    
          Get consumer protection basics, plain and simple

Visit consumer.gov
    
          Learn how the FTC protects free enterprise and consumers

Visit Competition Counts
    
          Looking for competition guidance?

Competition Guidance
      
    Show/hide News and Events menu items
              News and Events

  Latest News
            
          Press Release
  FTC Extends Deadline by 60 days for Commission Decision on ESRB Application for New Consent Mechanism Under COPPA


January 29, 2024
    
                      View News and Events

  Upcoming Event
            
          Jan30
            National Consumer Protection Week: Outreach and Program Ideas for Your Library

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | 3:30PM
 - 4:30PM
    
                      View more Events
    
          Sections
  

        


      News
                              Events
                              Features
                              Topics
                              Data and Visualizations
                              Contests
                              Stay ConnectedSign up for the latest news

Follow us on social media
    
          Feature
        
    
FTC Headquarters Building angle
  Open Commission Meetings

Track enforcement and policy developments from the Commission’s open meetings.

  Latest Data Visualization
        
    
Visualization of FTC Refunds to Consumers
  FTC Refunds to Consumers

Explore refund statistics including where refunds were sent and the dollar amounts refunded with this visualization.
      
    Show/hide About the FTC menu items
              About the FTC

Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.

Learn more about the FTC
    
          Sections
  

        


      Mission
                              History
                              Commissioners and Staff
                              Bureaus and Offices
                              Budget and Strategy
                              Office of Inspector General
                              Careers at the FTC
                              Contact
    
          Featured
        
    
Lina M. Khan
  Meet the Chair

Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021.

Chair Lina M. Khan
      
    Search
          Show/hide Search menu items
              Enter Search Term(s):

Looking for legal documents or records? Search the Legal Library instead.
        
        
        English
                                
                          
        
                españolReport Fraud
                                
                          
        
                Sign Up for Consumer Alerts
                                
                          
        
                Search the Legal Library

          
  
          Enforcement
              Show/hide Enforcement menu items
      
                
  
          Cases and Proceedings
      
    
              Premerger Notification Program
      
    
              Merger Review
      
    
              Anticompetitive Practices
      
    
              Rulemaking
      
    
              Statutes
      
    
              Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents
      
    
              Warning Letters
      
    
              Consumer Sentinel Network
      
    
              Criminal Liaison Unit
      
    
              FTC Refund Programs
      
    
              Notices of Penalty Offenses
      
    
              Competition Matters Blog
      
    
              Policy
              Show/hide Policy menu items
      
                
  
          Advocacy and Research
      
    
              Advisory Opinions
      
    
              Cooperation Agreements
      
    
              Federal Register Notices
      
    
              Reports
      
    
              Public Comments
      
    
              Studies
      
    
              Testimony
      
    
              Policy Statements
      
    
              International
      
    
              Advice and Guidance
              Show/hide Advice and Guidance menu items
      
                
  
          Consumer Advice
      
    
              Military Consumer
      
    
              Consumer.gov
      
    
              Business Guidance
      
    
              Competition Guidance
      
    
              Bulk Publications
      
    
              News and Events
              Show/hide News and Events menu items
      
                
  
          News
      
    
              Events
      
    
              Features
      
    
              Topics
      
    
              Data and Visualizations
      
    
              Contests
      
    
              Stay Connected
      
    
              About the FTC
              Show/hide About the FTC menu items
      
                
  
          Mission
      
    
              History
      
    
              Commissioners and Staff
      
    
              Bureaus and Offices
      
    
              Budget and Strategy
      
    
              Office of Inspector General
      
    
              Careers at the FTC
      
    
              ContactEnter Search Term(s):

Looking for legal documents or records? Search the Legal Library instead. Protecting Small Businesses
  


  Breadcrumb
      Home
                                                                        Business Guidance Business Guidance Menu
  Business Guidance
          
      Advertising and Marketing
              
        Credit and Finance
              
        Privacy and Security
              
        By Industry
              
        For Small Businesses
                        
      Cybersecurity for Small Business
              
        Protecting Small Businesses: Cases
              
        Browse Business Guidance Resources
              
        Business BlogAs a small business owner, you have a lot on your mind. You can’t afford to lose time or money to scammers or a compromised network. We can help you avoid scams, protect your computers and networks, keep your customers’ data safe – and protect your bottom line. You also can find out what the FTC is doing to protect small businesses. Stay connected by subscribing to the FTC’s Business Blog. Find information for small business in Spanish at ftc.gov/pequenosnegocios.

Featured

  Cybersecurity



Learn about cybersecurity and make it part of your business routine.Develop a plan to protect your customers’ personal information.Learn what do if there is a data breach.Subscribe to the business blog
    
          Scams and Your Small Business



Learn about scams that target your small business.Order free publications and share them with your colleagues.Watch theses videos and learn more about scams targeting small business.Report scams against small business at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  Videos
        Cybersecurity Video Series
Scams and Your Small Business Video Series

Build Security into Development
          Control Access to Data
          Data Breach Response
          Defend Against Ransomware
          Fraud - An Inside Look (short version)
          Plain Language Guidance
        Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business
          Featuring Online Customer Reviews: A Guide for Platforms
          Getting Business Credit
          Informing Businesses about the INFORM Consumers Act
          Merchants Beware: New “Free Money from the Government” Scam May Cost You
    
                      View more Plain Language Guidance
          Blog Posts
        Read these 2023 FTC best sellers to be a better seller in 2024January 2, 2024
          New resources to help protect consumers and small businesses from fraudNovember 8, 2023
          Franchise Fundamentals: Considering, calculating, and consultingJuly 10, 2023
          INFORM Consumers Act takes effect on June 27th. Is your business ready?June 8, 2023
          Can your staff spot the five most common text message scams?June 8, 2023
    
                      View more Blog posts
          Cases
        RCG Advances, LLCOctober 30, 2023
          Fleetcor Technologies, In the Matter ofAugust 17, 2023
          Yellowstone Capital LLC, FTC v.June 21, 2022
          Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., d/b/a D&BApril 7, 2022
          MOBE Ltd., et al.April 5, 2022
    
                      View more Cases
  
    
    
    

  Return to top **
Menu
Secondary Menu
  

        
    
    Report Fraud
                                
                          
        
                Sign Up for Consumer Alerts
                                
                          
        
                Search the Legal Library
  
      Main navigation
  

        


      Enforcement
                      
                  Cases and Proceedings
                              Premerger Notification Program
                              Merger Review
                              Anticompetitive Practices
                              Rulemaking
                              Statutes
                              Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents
                              Warning Letters
                              Consumer Sentinel Network
                              Criminal Liaison Unit
                              FTC Refund Programs
                              Notices of Penalty Offenses
                              Competition Matters Blog
                              Policy
                      
                  Advocacy and Research
                              Advisory Opinions
                              Cooperation Agreements
                              Federal Register Notices
                              Reports
                              Public Comments
                              Studies
                              Testimony
                              Policy Statements
                              International
                              Advice and Guidance
                      
                  Consumer Advice
                              Military Consumer
                              Consumer.gov
                              Business Guidance
                              Competition Guidance
                              Bulk Publications
                              News and Events
                      
                  News
                              Events
                              Features
                              Topics
                              Data and Visualizations
                              Contests
                              Stay Connected
                              About the FTC
                      
                  Mission
                              History
                              Commissioners and Staff
                              Bureaus and Offices
                              Budget and Strategy
                              Office of Inspector General
                              Careers at the FTC
                              Contact
  
      Footer
  

        


      Privacy Policy
                              Policy and Notices
                              Accessibility
                              FOIA
                              No FEAR Act
                              Office of Inspector General
                              USA.gov