NCPW 2026: Key Consumer Alerts and What to Do

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) returned in early March 2026, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) once again used the occasion to highlight the scams and frauds that pose the greatest risk to everyday consumers. The week is designed to give people a concentrated dose of practical advice—not just during the event, but all year long. If you missed the alerts, here is a summary of what was emphasized and how you can apply that advice right now.

What Happened During NCPW 2026

The FTC published a dedicated page for NCPW 2026, which contained updated scam warnings, reporting guidelines, and links to free resources. Although the exact wording of every alert is not reprinted here, the themes matched what the agency has flagged consistently in previous years: imposter scams, online shopping fraud, fake tech support calls, and investment scams tied to trending topics like cryptocurrency and AI.

One notable emphasis this year was on phishing attempts that mimic trusted organizations—banks, government agencies, and even utility companies. The FTC also reminded consumers that scammers often use current events (natural disasters, tax season, or major sales events) to create urgency and pressure people into acting without thinking.

Why It Matters

Scams are not static. Criminals adapt their methods as new technology and social trends emerge. A warning from a year ago might still be relevant, but new variants appear regularly. NCPW is the moment when the FTC aggregates the most pressing threats into a single, easily accessible campaign. For anyone who does not follow fraud news daily, the week’s alerts serve as a reliable and timely check-in.

Many people assume they would never fall for a scam, but the data suggests otherwise. In 2025, the FTC received over 2.5 million fraud reports, with reported losses exceeding $10 billion. Those numbers are almost certainly undercounts. Awareness is the first line of defense, and NCPW provides that at no cost.

What You Can Do

The advice from the FTC boils down to a few straightforward habits:

  • Slow down. Scammers create fake urgency. If someone demands immediate payment or threatens consequences, pause and verify independently.
  • Do not share personal information unsolicited. No legitimate organization will call, email, or text you out of the blue asking for your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords.
  • Use official channels to check claims. If a message claims to be from your bank, call the number on the back of your card—not any number in the message. If a caller says they are from the IRS, hang up and look up the real IRS number.
  • Report fraud. Even if you did not lose money, reporting helps the FTC track trends and warn others. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-HELP.
  • Share what you learn. Talk about scams with family and friends, especially those who may be less familiar with digital pitfalls. NCPW materials are free to download and share.

For a full set of tips and alerts from the week, visit the FTC’s NCPW page at ftc.gov/ncpw. The page remains active year-round and is updated as new information becomes available.

Sources

  • Federal Trade Commission, “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice,” March 2, 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Get ready for NCPW 2026,” February 20, 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Celebrate National Consumer Protection Week. Talk about scams,” March 4, 2024.
  • FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, 2025 Data Book.