Ghost Money · Issue 5 · Sep 3, 2026 · Issue 1 · Issue 2 · Issue 3 · Issue 4 · Issue 5 · Issue 6 · Issue 7 · Issue 8 · Issue 9 · Paste an ad

Program ended. Pitch didn't.

Issue 1 killed the 2025 corpses. Issue 2 named the swap-ins. Issue 3 was the fee pitch. Issue 4 was September Medicare AEP bait. Issue 5 is fall bait that sells closed federal discounts, premature COLA numbers, closed IRA catch-up windows, and paid “help” for free agency programs. Free. Not tax advice. If the agency did not publish the number, we leave it blank.

Check this ad. · Issue 1 · Issue 2 · Issue 3 · Issue 4

Fall bait

Dead

“$30 free internet / free government phone / free ACP tablet”

Ad: “ACP still live — $30 off broadband / free government phone / free laptop or tablet.” USAC: Affordable Connectivity Program provided up to $30/month broadband (up to $75 Tribal) and a one-time device discount up to $100. ACP ended June 1, 2024 for lack of Congressional funding. Ads selling ACP as current are selling a corpse.
Changed

“Same as ACP — free Lifeline phone / $30 Lifeline”

Ad: “ACP became Lifeline — still $30 / free unlimited phone.” Lifeline is a separate live FCC/USAC program: monthly discount up to $9.25 on phone, internet, or bundled service (up to $34.25 on qualifying Tribal lands). Not $30. Apply via lifelinesupport.org. ACP → Lifeline is a rename pitch with the wrong dollar amount.
Dead

“Still contribute for 2025 IRA / catch up prior years this fall”

Ad: “Fund your 2025 IRA now / catch up missed prior years before year-end.” IRS Pub 590-A: contributions for a year must be made by the due date for filing that year’s return, not including extensions. For most people, contributions for 2025 must be made by April 15, 2026. On Sep 3, 2026 that window is closed. If contributions for a year were less than the limit, you can’t contribute more after the due date to make up the difference. 2026 contributions are open (next row).
Changed

“IRA limit still $7,000 / $8,000 catch-up for 2026”

Ad: “Max your IRA at $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) for 2026.” IRS Pub 590-A What’s New for 2026: IRA contribution limit increased to $7,500 ($8,600 age 50 or older) from $7,000 ($8,000). Ads quoting the 2025 caps as the live 2026 limit are stale.
Dead

“Pay us to apply for student loan forgiveness / act before it’s discontinued”

Ad: “$299 to lock forgiveness / enrollments first come first served / share your StudentAid login.” StudentAid.gov: loan forgiveness programs are always free; you don’t need to pay someone to navigate repayment or reach forgiveness; aggressive “act immediately / first come first served” language is a scam pattern; ED and partners will never ask for your StudentAid.gov username or password. Work with your loan servicer free of charge.
Dead

“2027 Social Security COLA is X% / claim your raise now” (before SSA announces)

Ad: “2027 COLA locked at [any invented %] — claim your raise / pay for COLA filing.” SSA: latest COLA is 2.8% for benefits payable January 2026. A COLA effective for December of a year equals the % increase in CPI-W from the average for the third quarter of that year vs the third quarter of the last year a COLA became effective. On Sep 3, 2026, third-quarter 2026 CPI-W is not complete, so no official 2027 COLA number exists yet. SSA COLA page: services are free of charge; no agency solicits advanced fees for services.
Dead

“LIHEAP federal grant / heating check — pay a fee / we mail federal money”

Ad: “Federal LIHEAP grant approved — pay processing fee / we deposit your heating check.” ACF (updated Aug 5, 2026): LIHEAP helps with home energy costs via state/territory/tribal grant recipients. LIHEAP does not provide direct grants to individuals; LIHEAP does not charge a fee for receiving a benefit. If a message offers a LIHEAP grant or requests a fee, contact HHS Fraud Hotline 1-800-447-8477. Apply via EnergyHelp.us or NEAR 1-866-674-6327. Windows vary by state (Clearinghouse FY2026 table).