Every year during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission holds webinars to brief the public on the latest fraud data. The 2026 edition, held in early March, focused on three emerging scam categories that consumers need to know about: AI-powered fraud, payment app scams, and schemes specifically targeting military families.

Here’s what the agency shared and how you can protect yourself.

What Happened

The FTC’s consumer protection webinars are not recordings of new rulemaking—they are informational sessions aimed at raising awareness. According to reports from ACA International, which summarized the webinars, the agency highlighted distinct trends that have accelerated in the past year.

AI‑powered scams were a top concern. The FTC warned that scammers are now using generative AI tools to create convincing voice clones of family members, friends, or authority figures. In some cases, consumers receive a phone call that sounds exactly like a relative asking for money in an emergency. The agency also noted a rise in AI‑generated phishing emails that avoid the misspellings and odd phrasing that once made them easy to spot.

Payment app fraud—especially through platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App—continues to grow. The webinar described two common flavors: scammers impersonating bank fraud departments to trick users into sending money, and fake “goods” transactions where the seller never ships the product after being paid.

Military financial scams were a dedicated topic. Active‑duty service members, veterans, and military families are targeted with phony debt‑relief offers, fake low‑interest loans, and identity theft schemes that exploit frequent moves and deployment.

Why It Matters

Scam tactics evolve faster than many consumers’ ability to recognize them. The trends highlighted in the FTC webinar are not hypothetical; they are based on the tens of thousands of fraud reports the agency receives every month.

  • AI voice cloning is particularly dangerous because it bypasses the usual skepticism about unexpected calls. A familiar voice lowers the guard.
  • Payment app fraud is harder to recover from than credit card fraud. Many apps offer limited reimbursement for authorized transfers, even if you were tricked.
  • Military families already face financial stress from deployments and frequent relocations. Scammers deliberately target these vulnerabilities, and the consequences can affect security clearance and credit scores.

What Readers Can Do

The FTC’s advice for these trends boils down to a few practical steps that work across many scam types.

Freeze your credit if you haven’t already. It’s free and stops scammers from opening accounts in your name. Unfreeze only when you apply for credit yourself.

Use multi‑factor authentication on every financial account, email, and social media profile. App‑based authenticators are more secure than SMS codes, but either is better than none.

Verify unusual requests, especially those involving money transfers. Call the person back on a known number—not the one the caller gave you. If you get an email from your “bank” asking you to move money, contact the bank directly through its official app or website.

Be wary of payment apps for goods or services from strangers. Treat them like cash: once sent, it’s nearly impossible to get back. Use a credit card for purchases if possible.

Military families should also check the FTC’s Military Consumer website (militaryconsumer.gov) for specific guides on avoiding common scams. Report any suspicious activity to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

  • Federal Trade Commission – National Consumer Protection Week 2026 webinars
  • ACA International coverage of FTC webinars (March 2026)
  • FTC Military Consumer page: militaryconsumer.gov
  • FTC reporting portal: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Note: The exact statistics cited in the webinar were not published separately at the time of writing. The trends described here are based on press summaries and the FTC’s public guidance. For annual national fraud data, check the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network reports.