What the FTC Wants You to Know About Current Scams

If you feel like you’re hearing about new scams more often, you’re not imagining it. Fraudsters constantly refine their tactics, and what worked to protect yourself a year ago might not be enough today. That’s why the information shared by regulators is so critical. During the recent National Consumer Protection Week in March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar specifically to dissect the latest scam trends circulating right now. While the full details are best heard from the source, understanding the overarching themes they highlighted can give you a significant advantage in spotting and stopping fraud before it causes harm.

The Current Scam Landscape: What’s Circulating Now

Based on the FTC’s ongoing alerts and the focus of their recent consumer education efforts, several familiar scam categories are seeing particularly dangerous new twists. The webinar likely emphasized these evolving threats:

  • Imposter Scams with a Modern Twist: This remains a top method. Scammers pretend to be someone you trust—a family member in distress, a government agency like the Social Security Administration, or a well-known company. The new angle is the sophistication of the contact. It’s no longer just a poorly written email. It can be a text message that appears in the same thread as legitimate company messages (a tactic called “smishing”), a phone call where the caller ID is spoofed to look exactly like a real business number, or a deepfake voice clone of a relative asking for money.
  • Online Shopping and Fake Review Fraud: With more people shopping online, fraud has followed. The FTC frequently warns about fake websites that mimic real retailers, social media ads for products that never arrive, and bogus customer reviews that make a scam site look legitimate. The trend here is the professional look of these fake storefronts and the use of stolen logos and branding.
  • Investment and “Get-Rich-Quick” Schemes: These scams promise high returns with little risk, often tied to cryptocurrency, foreign exchange, or fake precious metal investments. They prey on the desire for financial security and use complex jargon to sound legitimate. The FTC and SEC consistently warn that unsolicited offers for “exclusive” or “guaranteed” investment opportunities are major red flags.
  • Tech Support and Phishing Scams: These haven’t gone away; they’ve gotten sneakier. You might get a pop-up on your computer that locks your screen, claiming to be from Microsoft, or a phone call saying your “Amazon account” has been hacked. The goal is to panic you into granting remote access to your device or revealing login credentials. Phishing emails and texts now often mimic common two-factor authentication requests or package delivery notices.

Notably, the FTC held a related webinar focusing on military financial scams, indicating that service members and veterans are being actively targeted with specialized impostor schemes and fraudulent loan offers.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today

Knowing the trends is one thing; putting up defenses is another. Here are concrete actions you can implement based on the principles the FTC advocates:

  1. Slow Down and Verify. Scammers rely on urgency. If a message, call, or email creates panic and demands immediate action, pause. Do not click links or call numbers provided in a suspicious message. Instead, contact the organization or person directly using a phone number or website you know is genuine from your own records or a prior statement.
  2. Assume Unsolicited Contact is Suspicious. A legitimate government agency will not call, text, or email you out of the blue to demand money or threaten arrest. Your bank won’t text you a link to “verify your account.” Treat any unexpected communication requesting information or payment as a potential scam until you can independently confirm it.
  3. Guard Your Personal and Financial Information. Never give out your Social Security number, bank account details, or one-time passcodes to someone who contacts you. Be wary of anyone who asks for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—these are almost always scams, as the money is nearly impossible to recover.
  4. Secure Your Online Accounts. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This adds a critical layer of security even if a scammer gets your password.
  5. Report It. If you encounter a scam, even if you didn’t lose money, report it. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This information is vital. It helps law enforcement track scam operations, understand emerging trends, and take action against fraudsters.

Staying safe is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. By treating unexpected requests for money or information with healthy skepticism, taking a moment to verify, and knowing how to report suspicious activity, you protect not only yourself but also help build a broader defense against these crimes. The FTC’s webinars and alerts are key resources in that fight—making use of them is one of the smartest habits you can develop.

Sources & Further Reading:

  • FTC National Consumer Protection Week Resources: consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-protection-week
  • FTC Consumer Alerts Blog: consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts
  • “FTC Webinar Highlights Latest Scam Trends During National Consumer Protection Week” - ACA International (via Google News, Mar 5, 2026).
  • “FTC Webinar Highlights Responding to Military Financial Scams” - ACA International (via Google News, Mar 17, 2026).