Asked by Ronie on Facebook.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has information about types of FHA loans.

If you have questions about specific FHA loans, you can talk to a HUD-approved housing by calling (800) 569-4287 or searching for a housing counseling agency agency near you.

Scammers can use the sensitive personal information in your tax return to steal your identity and even take your tax refund. Here are some tips to minimize your risk:

• Make sure that anyone helping to prepare your taxes is trustworthy.
• File taxes early in the tax season to reduce the window of time in which a thief could fraudulently file under your Social Security number.
• If filing electronically, only submit forms through a secure Internet connection.
• If filing by mail, go to the post office directly to mail the envelope.
• Do not respond to email messages asking for your personal information that claim to be from the IRS. If the IRS needs to contact you, it will do so by mail.

An unexpected message from the IRS could be a tip off that an identity thief is misusing your Social Security number. Contact the IRS if you receive a notice that:

• More than one tax return was filed in your name
• IRS records show you were paid by an employer you don’t know

If you get such a message from the IRS or suspect that someone has stolen your Social Security number, call the IRS’s Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

Learn more about protecting yourself from tax-related identity theft.

It’s never too early to start planning for your financial future, and National Financial Capability Month is the perfect time to begin. Whether you’re saving for college, learning how to be a smarter consumer or planning for retirement further down the road, we’ll help you unravel common money mysteries this month so you can ensure a strong financial future for yourself and your family.

The green banner at the top of this post will appear on all blog posts related to financial topics throughout the month of April. Keep an eye out for the banner and you’ll know you’ll find sound advice on how to make your money work for you.

To kick off the month, here’s a few financial tips to get you started:

Choose the Right Savings Account

Understanding the difference between different kinds of savings accounts can be overwhelming. Your goal is to find a safe place to put your money, but with all the options, how do you know which account is right for you?

Before making your decision, consider the following:

• Minimum deposit amount: Does the account require you to keep a certain amount of money in the account at all times?
• Limit on withdrawals: How often can you take out money?
• Interest: How much will your money earn just for being in the account?
• Deposit Insurance: Is your money insured in case something happens?
• Convenience: How easy it is to for you to deposit or withdraw money?

Be Prepared for an Emergency

Being financially prepared doesn’t just mean you understand your budget and have a healthy emergency fund. While having savings to fall back on will make it easier to recover after a disaster, a lack of quick access to cash and not being able to locate vital records, ATM cards or proof of identification can make it harder to get back on your feet quickly.

FEMA recommends you put together a financial emergency preparedness kit. Take inventory of valuables in your home for your insurance. Take photos of the items as well as the inside and outside of your house.

Store these photos, along with a small amount of cash and copies of important documents (like your insurance policies) in a safe place at home as part of your emergency disaster kit. In the event of an emergency, you’ll be able to use your kit to help file insurance claims.

Teach Your Kids Good Money Habits

Smart saving and spending habits start early in life. You can help your kids understand money basics with fun and educational comic strips from Kids.gov. The comics teach the importance of saving and help kids find creative ways to be frugal.

Order Free Financial Materials

If you want more free and trusted financial advice, order a packet of free financial materials and you’ll get tips on retirement benefits, smart saving for college, avoiding financial setbacks and more. You’ll also receive a copy of the Consumer Action Handbook, full of advice on how to avoid scams and fraud to protect your money and financial future.

Make sure to check back throughout the month to get even more financial advice.

Asked by an anonymous Tumblr user.

A recent research poll showed that more than half of all American adults entered sweepstakes within the past year - most of which were legitimate and law-abiding. However, con artists try to capitalize on the popularity of these offers by disguising their illegal schemes.

The Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of complaints each year from consumers about gifts, sweepstakes, and prize promotions. You can protect yourself by recognizing the differences between legitimate sweepstakes and fraudulent ones:

• Prizes in legitimate contests are awarded solely by chance. Contestants don’t have to pay a fee or buy something to enter or increase their odds of winning.
• In fraudulent schemes, “winners” almost always have to pay to enter a contest or collect their “prize,” if they get a prize at all. Requiring a fee to enter is illegal.

Fraudulent sweepstakes promotions often show up through telemarketer calls, e-mails, or in the mail. You can reduce your chance of receiving these notifications by registering for the National Do Not Call Registry and by having your name removed from direct mail and e-mail marketing lists.

Learn your rights under the law when it comes to sweepstakes and find more ways to protect yourself.