New FTC Report Reveals Top Scams to Watch Out for This Year

Every March, the Federal Trade Commission hosts a series of events for National Consumer Protection Week, and this year’s webinar offered a sobering look at the current state of fraud in the United States. The agency presented updated data on the most common scams, the tactics criminals are using, and who they are targeting. For anyone trying to stay one step ahead of fraudsters, the key takeaways are worth paying attention to.

What Happened

During the webinar, FTC officials reviewed fraud complaint data from the previous year. As in recent years, imposter scams remained the single most reported category. These are schemes where someone pretends to be a trusted entity—a government agency, a tech support representative, a utility company, or even a family member in distress. According to the FTC, losses to imposter scams total hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Another trend that received emphasis was the rise in investment scams, particularly those involving fake cryptocurrency opportunities and “pig butchering” operations where scammers build a relationship with a victim over weeks or months before convincing them to invest money that disappears. Online shopping fraud also remains persistent, especially during holiday seasons and around major sales events.

Why It Matters

The webinar made clear that fraud is not a static threat. Scammers continuously adapt their methods to exploit current events, new technology, and trust in familiar institutions. For example, the FTC noted an increase in scams targeting military families, such as fake benefit enrollment offers that claim to help with VA claims or military discounts. These groups are often under financial stress or unfamiliar with official procedures, making them more vulnerable.

Similarly, seniors continue to be disproportionately affected by sweepstakes and lottery scams, grandparent scams, and tech support fraud. The FTC emphasized that these crimes not only cause financial harm but also erode trust and create emotional distress.

The broader point is that awareness alone isn’t enough—consumers need specific, actionable defenses. The FTC’s data shows that many victims lose money because they didn’t know how to verify a contact or where to report suspicious activity.

What Readers Can Do

Based on the FTC’s advice, here are practical steps you can take right now to reduce your risk:

  • Verify before you act. If someone calls, emails, or texts claiming to be from a government agency, a bank, or a family member, don’t use the contact information they provide. Instead, look up the official phone number or website independently and call to confirm. A legitimate organization will not pressure you to act immediately.

  • Slow down. Scammers use urgency to override your judgment. Take a breath. Hang up. Talk to someone you trust before sending money or sharing personal information.

  • Use official payment methods. Do not pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency unless you are absolutely certain of the recipient. These payment methods are nearly impossible to reverse. Legitimate businesses and agencies do not ask for payment this way.

  • Set your accounts to alert you. Enable two-factor authentication on your bank accounts and email. For older relatives, consider setting up alerts for unusual transactions or new account openings.

  • Report scams. If you encounter a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps the agency track trends and take action against bad actors. Even if you didn’t lose money, reporting suspicious contacts helps protect others.

For military families specifically, the FTC recommends verifying any benefit-related offers through official channels like the Department of Veterans Affairs or your installation’s Family Support Center. Seniors should be especially cautious of unsolicited phone calls or pop-up messages offering tech support.

Sources

The information in this article is drawn from the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week webinar presentations and related consumer alerts, as well as reporting by ACA International, a trade association for credit and collection professionals, which covered the webinar. Direct FTC data and tips are available at consumer.ftc.gov and ftc.gov/ncpw.