Your Guide to Staying Ahead of Scams This Consumer Protection Week

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is back, running from March 1-7, 2026. This annual event, spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is designed to do one crucial thing: start conversations. This year’s theme underscores that protecting yourself, your family, and your community from fraud begins with talking about it.

Scammers don’t take a week off, and their tactics are always evolving. NCPW serves as a timely, focused reminder to review your defenses. It’s an opportunity to catch up on the latest schemes and reinforce the basics of digital safety.

What Scams Should You Watch For in 2026?

While classic cons never fully disappear, the FTC consistently highlights trends where scammers are most active. Based on recent advisories and ongoing reports, these are the key threats to have on your radar:

  • Phishing and Smishing 2.0: The fake email from a “bank” or text about a “package delivery” is more sophisticated than ever. Scammers now use publicly available data breaches to personalize messages, making them eerily convincing. They often create a false sense of urgency—claiming your account is locked or a payment is overdue—to bypass your better judgment.
  • Impersonation Scams: This broad category includes criminals pretending to be from a government agency (like the Social Security Administration or IRS), a tech support expert from a well-known company, or even a family member in distress. The goal is to frighten or pressure you into handing over money or personal information immediately.
  • Online Shopping Fraud: Fake retail websites, social media marketplace scams, and “too-good-to-be-true” deals continue to proliferate. You might pay for an item that never arrives, receive a cheap counterfeit, or simply have your payment information stolen.
  • The Rise of AI-Enhanced Scams: Be aware that artificial intelligence tools are making scams harder to spot. This can include highly realistic fake voices (used in “grandparent” scams), AI-generated images for fake listings, or more convincing phishing emails free of the usual grammatical errors.

What You Can Do: Practical Steps for Protection

Knowledge is the first layer of defense. Here’s how to put it into practice.

1. Slow Down and Verify. Pressure to act now is the scammer’s greatest weapon. If you get an unexpected call, text, or email demanding money or information, pause. Do not use the contact details provided in the suspicious message. Instead, look up the official website or customer service number of the organization supposedly contacting you, and call them directly to verify the request.

2. Strengthen Your Digital Doors. This is non-negotiable basics, but it works.

  • Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Consider a reputable password manager.
  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): On every account that offers it, especially email, banking, and social media.
  • Update Your Software: Regular updates on your phone, computer, and apps patch security flaws scammers exploit.

3. Be a Skeptical Shopper. Before buying from an unfamiliar site, search its name with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” Check the return policy and contact information—if there’s only an email form, that’s a red flag. When possible, pay with a credit card, which offers stronger fraud protections than debit cards or wire transfers.

4. Talk About It. This is the core of NCPW. Have a conversation with your family, especially older relatives who are frequently targeted. Discuss common scams and agree on a simple rule: if anyone gets a strange call asking for money, they hang up and check with another family member first.

What to Do If You Spot or Fall for a Scam

If you encounter a scam, or worse, lose money or information, action can limit the damage.

  1. Report It: File a report immediately at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is vital. Your report helps law enforcement spot trends and build cases against scammers. It also contributes to the public data that the FTC and other organizations use to issue warnings.
  2. Secure Your Accounts: If you shared passwords, change them immediately on the affected accounts. Contact your bank or credit card company if you shared financial information or made a payment.
  3. Monitor for Identity Theft: If you shared sensitive personal information (like your Social Security number), visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan. Consider placing a free fraud alert on your credit reports.

Staying Vigilant Beyond This Week

National Consumer Protection Week is a catalyst, but consumer protection is a year-round practice. You can stay informed by subscribing to the FTC’s free consumer alerts at ftc.gov/subscribe. Their advice is clear, authoritative, and focused on what you actually need to know.

The best defense is a prepared community. Use this week as a reason to start the conversation, check your habits, and know where to turn for help. By sharing what you know, you don’t just protect yourself—you help build a wall that scammers find much harder to climb.