Free FTC publications by mail are available for community education on scams, privacy, identity theft, credit, debt, and related consumer topics. The Federal Trade Commission says both the publications and shipping are free, but many print items have minimum order quantities because the service is intended for sharing with communities.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on I Love Freebies may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you use qualifying links, at no extra cost to you.
1. What Free FTC Publications by Mail Are Available?
The Federal Trade Commission’s bulk-order site offers printed consumer-education materials on topics including scams, privacy, identity theft, credit, debt collection, gift-card scams, small-business scams, and online safety. Formats can include brochures, booklets, bookmarks, tear sheets, worksheets, and sample packs.
The current FTC FAQ states that all FTC publications are free and that there are no shipping or handling charges. That makes this an unusually useful mail freebie for libraries, senior centers, nonprofits, schools, community groups, local agencies, and individuals who regularly share consumer-protection information with others.
2. Why Many Items Have Minimum Quantities
This is not designed primarily as a one-copy personal sample service. The FTC explains that the bulk-order site is intended for individuals and organizations that want to share resources with their communities. For that reason, many publications have minimum quantities. For example, some scam brochures may start at 25 copies, while some bookmarks or tear-sheet pads may start at larger quantities.
If you need only one or a few copies, the FTC recommends downloading and printing the material from its consumer or business websites instead. Always check the current quantity range shown on each publication before adding it to your cart.
3. How to Order Free FTC Publications
Use the button above to visit the FTC bulk-order catalog. Filter or search by topic, open a publication, choose an available quantity, and add it to your cart. When you are finished, follow the checkout prompts and provide the shipping information requested by the FTC.
Because the publications and shipping are free, there should be no product or standard shipping charge at checkout. If you need more than an item’s listed maximum quantity, the FTC provides a separate special-request process rather than asking users to place duplicate orders.
4. Examples of Current Free Materials
The current catalog includes resources such as “How To Avoid a Scam,” scam-prevention worksheets, identity-theft materials, gift-card scam bookmarks, debt-collection information, small-business scam guides, and privacy and security resources. Some materials are available in multiple languages, including Spanish and several Asian languages.
Inventory changes over time, so this post does not promise that a specific title or language will always be in stock. Browse the live catalog to see which publications can currently be ordered and which are download-only.
5. Who Can Make Good Use of These Materials?
These publications are especially useful for organizations and people who teach others about consumer safety. Libraries can place brochures near public computers, senior centers can use scam-prevention handouts, schools and financial-literacy programs can share credit and identity-theft materials, and nonprofits can distribute resources during community events.
Individuals may also order when they meet the quantity requirements and genuinely intend to share the materials. The FTC’s quantity limits are designed to keep the program free and economical, so avoid ordering more copies than you can reasonably distribute.
6. Important Order Rules
There is no fixed expiration date listed for the overall program, but inventory, minimum quantities, maximum quantities, and available languages vary by publication. Some titles can be ordered in print while others are available only as downloadable files. The FTC also notes that submitted orders generally cannot be changed through the site after checkout.
For unusual circumstances or quantities above the listed maximum, use the provider’s special-request process. Do not place multiple duplicate orders to work around a quantity limit.
7. Is This a True Freebie?
Yes. The FTC explicitly states that both the publications and shipping are free. There is no purchase requirement, membership fee, coupon, or sweepstakes component. The main qualification is that many printed items are offered in bulk quantities for community distribution rather than as single-copy personal requests.
That makes the program a good fit for Freebies by Mail and No Purchase Required, with a clear note that minimum order quantities apply to many titles.
8. Final Thoughts
Free FTC publications by mail are a valuable evergreen resource for anyone helping others recognize scams, protect personal information, understand credit, or learn basic consumer rights. Browse the current catalog, choose only the materials you expect to use, and respect each item’s order limits. If you need fewer copies than the print minimum, download and print the free digital version instead.