How to Spot This Year’s Top Scams: Straight Talk from the FTC

It’s easy to feel like scams are a distant threat—something that happens to other people. But fraudsters are constantly refining their tactics, and what worked to protect yourself last year might not be enough today. That’s why the insights from regulators are so valuable. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to break down the latest scam trends. Their goal wasn’t to scare people, but to arm them with specific, current knowledge.

Here’s a look at what they highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about it.

The Scams You’re Most Likely to See

The FTC presentation emphasized that while the core goal of stealing money or information hasn’t changed, the delivery methods and disguises are evolving. A few key trends stood out:

  • Phishing Gets More Personal: Generic “Dear Customer” emails are still around, but scammers are increasingly using data from past breaches to craft targeted messages. You might get an email that references an old password or a service you actually use, making the request to “verify your account” seem much more legitimate.
  • Imposter Scams Are Everywhere: This remains a top category. Scammers pretend to be from a government agency (like the IRS or Social Security Administration), a well-known company (like Amazon or Microsoft), or even a family member in distress. The contact can come via phone, email, text, or social media message. The hook is always urgency and fear: your benefits are being suspended, a package can’t be delivered, your grandchild is in jail and needs bail money right now.
  • Identity Theft Schemes Evolve: Beyond just stealing credit card numbers, fraudsters are filing for unemployment benefits, tax refunds, or small business loans in other people’s names. They often use personal information gathered from data breaches or phishing attacks to submit these fraudulent applications.

A Targeted Threat: Military Financial Scams

The webinar dedicated specific attention to financial scams targeting military personnel, veterans, and their families. These scams are particularly predatory because they exploit the unique circumstances of military life.

Scammers may pose as representatives of legitimate-sounding military loan companies, pension advance schemes, or veterans’ benefit services. They often promise instant cash, special deals “for service members,” or help accessing benefits. In reality, these offers come with exorbitant fees, illegally high interest rates, or are outright thefts of personal information and deposits. They prey on the frequent moves, deployment cycles, and financial pressures that can make service members and veterans more vulnerable.

Practical Steps to Shield Yourself

Knowing the trends is one thing; putting up defenses is another. Here are concrete actions you can take based on the FTC’s guidance:

  1. Slow Down and Verify: Urgency is a scammer’s best tool. If you get a pressure-filled call, email, or text, take a breath. Hang up or close the message. Independently look up the phone number or website for the organization supposedly contacting you (don’t use contact info provided in the suspicious message) and call them directly to ask if there’s a real issue.
  2. Guard Your Information Like Gold: No government agency or legitimate company will call, email, or text to ask for your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords out of the blue. Never give this information to someone who contacts you first.
  3. Strengthen Your Digital Doors: Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This adds a critical second step for verifying your identity that scammers can’t easily bypass.
  4. Be Skeptical of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: Especially for military families, be extremely cautious of financial offers that promise guaranteed approval, no credit check, or immediate cash. Research any company thoroughly with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state’s attorney general’s office before proceeding.
  5. Talk About It: Scams thrive in secrecy. Discussing these tactics with family, friends, and especially older relatives or those who may be more isolated can build a community defense. Share this article.

How to Report and Find Help

If you encounter a scam, or worse, lose money to one, reporting it is crucial. It helps law enforcement track trends and crack down on fraudsters.

  • Report to the FTC: Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is the primary clearinghouse for scam reports.
  • Report to Other Agencies: You can also file reports with your state attorney general’s office, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and, for military-specific fraud, the appropriate branch’s Inspector General or the CFPB.
  • Find Trusted Resources: For ongoing education, bookmark the FTC’s consumer advice site at consumer.ftc.gov. It’s a free, non-commercial resource full of plain-language guidance.

Staying safe from scams isn’t about being paranoid; it’s about being prepared and informed. By understanding the current tactics—from hyper-personalized phishing to predatory military loans—you can recognize the red flags before they turn into financial losses. Let the FTC’s latest insights be your reminder to double-check, verify, and trust your instincts when something feels off.

Sources:

  • FTC Webinar Highlights Latest Scam Trends During National Consumer Protection Week - ACA International. Published March 5, 2026.
  • FTC Webinar Highlights Responding to Military Financial Scams - ACA International. Published March 17, 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice & Reporting Portal (consumer.ftc.gov, reportfraud.ftc.gov).