National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC’s Top Tips to Stay Safe

Every year, the Federal Trade Commission runs National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to help people recognize scams and protect their money and personal information. This year marks the 26th annual event, and the FTC has published its usual round of free resources at ftc.gov/ncpw. Whether you have already been targeted by a scam or just want to be more prepared, the advice is straightforward and worth reviewing.

What happened

The FTC kicked off NCPW 2026 in early March with a series of alerts, downloadable guides, and social media posts aimed at common consumer threats. The agency’s website now features updated materials on imposter scams, online shopping fraud, investment schemes, and identity theft. Many of these resources are available in multiple languages and can be shared with family members who might be less familiar with current scam tactics.

In the weeks leading up to NCPW, the FTC also urged community organizations, libraries, and local government offices to plan their own outreach events. The idea is that consumer protection works best when information reaches people through trusted local channels, not just federal websites.

Why it matters

Scams cost Americans billions of dollars each year. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network data consistently shows that imposter scams—where someone pretends to be a government official, a tech support agent, or a relative in distress—are the most frequently reported. Online shopping scams, especially those involving fake websites or social media ads, have also been rising. And investment scams (sometimes tied to cryptocurrency) often lead to larger individual losses.

The real value of NCPW is that it pushes this information into the open at a predictable time each year. People who might ignore a random fraud alert are more likely to pay attention when they see news coverage or a library poster about “National Consumer Protection Week.” The timing also lets the FTC and other agencies coordinate messaging so that consumers hear the same basic warnings from multiple sources.

Because scams evolve quickly, no single week of awareness can stop fraud entirely. But the habits promoted during NCPW—pausing before sending money, checking a company’s reputation, and reporting suspicious contacts—can reduce your risk throughout the year.

What readers can do

Know the most common scam patterns

The FTC emphasizes that most scams share a few red flags: pressure to act immediately, a request for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, and a caller or message that seems official but contains small errors or unusual urgency. If you hear “you must pay now or face arrest” or “you won a prize but need to pay fees first,” it is almost certainly a scam.

Protect your personal information

Do not share Social Security numbers, bank account details, or passwords with anyone who calls, texts, or emails you unexpectedly. Legitimate companies and government agencies will not ask for sensitive information out of the blue. If you are unsure, hang up and call the organization using a number you know is real—not the one the caller gave you.

Report scams when you see them

Reporting is important because it helps the FTC and other agencies track trends and take action. You can report fraud, identity theft, or unwanted calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For phishing emails, forward them to [email protected]. The FTC also runs IdentityTheft.gov, a step-by-step recovery site for anyone whose personal information has been misused.

Help others in your community

Many scams target older adults, recent immigrants, or people who are less comfortable with technology. Sharing a simple tip—like “never pay someone who says you owe a debt unless you’ve verified it yourself”—can prevent a serious loss. The FTC provides free printable materials at ftc.gov/ncpw that you can give to neighbors or post in communal areas.

Stay informed, but skeptical

Subscribe to the FTC’s Consumer Alerts (ftc.gov/subscribe) to get updates directly. But even official-sounding information should be cross-checked: scammers sometimes create fake subscription pages or mimic government websites. Bookmark the real .gov addresses and use them directly.

Sources

This article draws on publicly available FTC materials published for National Consumer Protection Week 2026 and previous years. Specific pages referenced include:

  • FTC, “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice,” ftc.gov/ncpw (March 2026).
  • FTC, “Get ready for NCPW 2026,” ftc.gov (February 2026).
  • FTC, “It’s time to start planning for NCPW 2026,” ftc.gov (February 2026).

For current scam data and reporting tools, visit the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network at consumer.ftc.gov.