Key Scam Trends from FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week Webinar

Every year, National Consumer Protection Week gives the FTC a platform to share the latest data on how scammers are operating. The agency’s most recent webinar, held during that week, outlined which fraud tactics are growing and how consumers can defend themselves. If you missed it, here’s a summary of what was covered—and what you can do about it.

What Happened

During National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission hosted a webinar to discuss emerging scam trends. According to a report from ACA International, which covered the event, the FTC highlighted two categories that are causing the most harm right now: impersonation scams and investment fraud.

Impersonation scams include government impostors (people pretending to be from the IRS, Social Security, or the FTC itself) as well as tech support scams where callers claim your computer has a virus. The FTC noted that these remain among the most frequently reported fraud types.

Investment scams were another major focus. The agency pointed to the rise of “pig butchering” schemes—lengthy cons where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships or investment partnerships to convince victims to put money into bogus cryptocurrency or stock platforms. These scams often start on dating apps or social media.

The FTC didn’t release entirely new statistics during the webinar, but it reiterated that reported losses from investment fraud have climbed sharply in recent years. Impersonation scams, meanwhile, continue to rank highest in terms of the number of reports received.

Why It Matters

These two scam categories are particularly dangerous because they target trust. Government impersonators exploit fear of fines or arrest. Tech support scammers prey on people’s desire to fix a problem quickly. Investment fraud takes advantage of hope—and often of people who are already struggling financially.

The FTC’s decision to spotlight these during National Consumer Protection Week is a reminder that even as some older scams fade, fraudsters adapt. The webinar also underscores how quickly scammers shift to new platforms. Investment fraud, for instance, has moved heavily into cryptocurrency because transactions are harder to reverse and trace.

For consumers, the key takeaway is that no single prevention tactic works for everything. You need a combination of skepticism, verification habits, and safe payment practices—all of which the FTC emphasized in the webinar.

What Readers Can Do

Based on the advice shared during the webinar, here are practical steps you can take right now to reduce your risk:

  • Verify any unsolicited contact. If someone calls, emails, or texts claiming to be from a government agency, hang up and call the official number on that agency’s website. Do not use any phone number the caller gives you.
  • Slow down and question urgency. Scammers almost always try to rush you. A legitimate government or company will never demand immediate payment via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
  • Never give remote access to your computer. Only grant control to someone you know and trust, like a family member or an in-person repair service. Tech support scams often start with an unsolicited pop-up or phone call.
  • Treat investment offers with extreme caution. If someone you met online—especially on a dating app—starts talking about an exclusive crypto investment opportunity, assume it’s a scam. Even if they show you fake profits, they are likely building trust to take a larger sum.
  • Use secure payment methods. Pay with credit cards when possible. Avoid wire transfers, cash apps, or cryptocurrency when sending money to someone you haven’t met in person. These are almost impossible to recover.
  • Report scams to the FTC. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and submit a detailed account. Your report helps the agency track trends and may assist in stopping fraudsters.

Sources

  • ACA International, “FTC Webinar Highlights Latest Scam Trends During National Consumer Protection Week,” March 5, 2026.
  • FTC, ReportFraud.ftc.gov (general resource for filing complaints and checking scam alerts).