New FTC Data Reveals Top Scams to Watch Out for in 2026

New FTC Data Reveals Top Scams to Watch Out for in 2026

Every year during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosts a webinar to share emerging fraud trends and practical advice. This year’s session, summarized by ACA International, highlighted several scams that are currently affecting consumers at higher rates. If you want to stay ahead of the people running these schemes, understanding what they are and how they operate is the first step.

Below is a breakdown of the key scams the FTC flagged, along with specific warning signs and steps you can take to avoid losing money or personal information.

What happened: The FTC’s latest scam landscape

During the webinar, FTC staff presented data from the Consumer Sentinel Network — a database that collects reports from people who have been targeted by fraud. While the complete report has not yet been published, the discussion pointed to several categories that have been growing or evolving.

Imposter scams remain the most commonly reported type of fraud. These are calls, emails, or texts where someone pretends to be from a government agency (like the IRS or Social Security Administration), a tech support company, or even a family member in distress. The FTC noted a notable increase in scammers impersonating well-known businesses, such as delivery services and online retailers.

Online shopping scams are also high on the list. Fake websites and social media ads offering too-good-to-be-true deals continue to trap shoppers, especially around the holidays or during sales events.

Investment scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency or “risk-free” trading platforms, were discussed as a growing concern. The FTC highlighted that these scams often start on social media or dating apps.

Additionally, the webinar covered a newer trend: military-related financial scams. Service members and veterans are being targeted with fake debt collection calls and phony benefits offers. A separate FTC webinar focused specifically on this issue, which ACA International also reported on.

Why it matters: The real cost of falling for these scams

These aren’t just nuisances — they cause real financial harm. According to FTC data referenced during the webinar, consumers reported losing billions of dollars to fraud in recent years. Imposter scams alone account for a large share of those losses, with many victims losing hundreds or thousands of dollars in a single interaction.

The tactics are becoming harder to spot. Scammers use official-looking caller IDs, spoofed email addresses, and even personal information they’ve gathered from data breaches. They create urgency — “your account will be closed,” “you’ll be arrested,” “this offer ends in ten minutes” — to make you act before you think.

The military-related scams are especially troubling because they exploit trust in institutions that are supposed to help. False debt collectors may demand payment for loans that don’t exist, or scammers promise to “fix” a veteran’s benefits claim for a fee.

What readers can do: Concrete steps to protect yourself

The FTC emphasizes a few core principles, no matter which scam you encounter. Here’s how to apply them:

1. Verify contact independently. If someone calls, emails, or texts claiming to be from a company or agency, do not use the phone number or link they provide. Instead, look up the official contact information yourself. For government agencies, use .gov websites.

2. Don’t pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. These are the preferred payment methods for scammers because they are nearly impossible to trace or reverse. Legitimate organizations almost never demand payment in these forms.

3. Pause before acting. Scammers rely on creating a false sense of urgency. If you feel pressured, that is a red flag. Hang up, close the browser tab, and talk to someone you trust before proceeding.

4. Report scams to the FTC. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov to file a report. Your report helps the agency track trends and take enforcement action. You can also forward phishing emails to [email protected].

5. For military families and veterans: Be especially cautious of any unsolicited call or message about benefits or debts. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not contact you through social media to request payment. If you receive a suspicious debt collection call, verify the debt with the original creditor first.

Sources

The information in this article is drawn from two ACA International articles covering FTC webinars:

• “FTC Webinar Highlights Latest Scam Trends During National Consumer Protection Week” (March 5, 2026)
• “FTC Webinar Highlights Responding to Military Financial Scams” (March 17, 2026)

Both are based on presentations by FTC staff during National Consumer Protection Week. The Consumer Sentinel Network data referenced is publicly available through the FTC’s annual reports.

Staying informed about common schemes is one of the best defenses. Scammers adapt quickly, but so can you — by knowing the patterns they use and pausing before you pay or share personal information.