Don’t Let Scammers Win: FTC’s Best Consumer Advice From NCPW 2026 (Use It Any Time)

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 took place in early March, as it does every year. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) used the occasion to release fresh consumer alerts, updated scam warnings, and practical guidance. Even if you missed the event, the advice remains just as relevant today—scammers and identity thieves do not take holidays, and the tactics that worked in March often keep working through the rest of the year.

This article distills the key takeaways from the FTC’s NCPW 2026 campaign, so you can put them into action now.

What Happened During NCPW 2026

From March 2 through March 8, 2026, the FTC and its partner agencies—including the AARP Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, and the Department of Justice—ran a coordinated outreach effort. The “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice” page on the FTC’s website served as the hub. It highlighted the most common scams reported to the agency in 2025 and early 2026, along with updated tips for avoiding them.

The FTC’s alerts from that week focused on three major categories:

  • Imposter scams – Callers or emails posing as government officials (like Social Security or IRS), tech support representatives, or family members in distress.
  • Refund and prize scams – Messages claiming you’re owed money from a previous overpayment or that you’ve won a sweepstakes you never entered.
  • Fake delivery notifications – Phishing texts and emails designed to steal credit card numbers under the guise of a package tracking update.

These scams are not new, but the FTC noted that the methods used to deliver them are evolving—for example, more scammers now use spoofed email domains that closely resemble legitimate businesses.

Why This Advice Still Matters

Scams don’t stop after a designated awareness week. According to FTC data, consumers reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud in 2024, and early 2025 numbers suggested the trend was continuing upward. NCPW 2026 provided a concentrated moment to educate the public, but the underlying threats persist.

The value of the FTC’s guidance lies in its authority and specificity. As the primary federal agency for consumer protection, the FTC collects real-time reports from victims and uses that data to update its warnings. So advice issued in March 2026 reflects the most current scam patterns. That means following those tips—whether you read them then or now—gives you a clear advantage.

What Readers Can Do Right Now

You do not need to wait for next year’s NCPW to protect yourself. Here are several concrete actions you can take today, based on the FTC’s recommendations from NCPW 2026.

1. Recognize the Red Flags

The FTC consistently says that most successful scams share a few common features. Be on guard when you encounter:

  • Requests to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers – legitimate companies and government agencies never demand these forms of payment.
  • High-pressure language – phrases like “act now,” “your account will be closed,” or “you’re under investigation” are designed to short-circuit your judgment.
  • Unsolicited contact – if you didn’t initiate the call, email, or text, treat it with suspicion.

2. Block Unwanted Calls and Messages

Enable call-blocking features on your phone. Use the “Silence Unknown Callers” option on iPhones or equivalent settings on Android. For texts, report spam by forwarding the message to 7726 (which spells SPAM on most keypads). The FTC also recommends filtering spam in your email app and never clicking links in unsolicited messages.

3. Harden Your Accounts

  • Use unique, strong passwords for each important account (email, banking, social media). A password manager makes this manageable.
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever it’s offered. This adds a second layer of security even if a password is stolen.
  • Freeze your credit reports at the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). It is free and prevents fraudsters from opening new accounts in your name.

4. Report Scams Promptly

If you or a family member falls for a scam, you can help yourself and others by reporting it. The FTC collects every report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your complaint may become part of a pattern that leads to legal action. You can also file a report with your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.

For identity theft specifically, visit IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s one-stop resource for recovery plans. It walks you through steps like placing a fraud alert, disputing fraudulent accounts, and getting a recovery plan tailored to your situation.

Year-Round Resources

The FTC’s “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice” page is still available online, and the agency updates its consumer education materials throughout the year. You can subscribe to the FTC’s blog (Consumer Advice) for new alerts, or follow them on social media. Nonprofit partners like the Better Business Bureau and AARP also maintain free fraud prevention resources.

One simple habit: set aside ten minutes each month to check for new scam alerts. Scammers adapt; your defenses should too.

National Consumer Protection Week 2026 may have come and gone, but the best advice from the FTC never expires. Put these measures in place now, and you’ll be ahead of the next wave of fraud.

Sources: FTC.gov, “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice” (March 2026); FTC press releases from February–March 2026; IdentityTheft.gov.