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Getting Smart with Your Money and Your Data: Practical Takeaways from Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every March, the Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of partners spotlight the critical importance of savvy consumerism during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). It’s more than just an awareness campaign; it’s a yearly reset button for your personal security habits. With the theme for 2026 focusing on evolving digital threats, the FTC is doubling down on practical advice to help you recognize, resist, and report the most pervasive scams. ...

That Call About Your Overdue Utility Bill? It’s Almost Certainly a Scam. If your phone rings and the caller claims to be from your electric, gas, or water company demanding immediate payment, be very careful. It’s likely a criminal trying to steal your money. ...

Don’t Get Scammed: Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is here again. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission and its partners are highlighting one of the most crucial aspects of modern life: how to spot, avoid, and report scams. It’s a yearly reminder that while technology brings convenience, it also opens new doors for fraudsters. This isn’t about fear; it’s about building simple, effective habits that protect your money and your personal information. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams Scammers are relentless, constantly updating their tactics to catch us off guard. During a recent webinar for National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shed light on the latest trends in fraud. While the full transcript isn’t public, the discussion centered on the evolving methods criminals are using right now. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know to protect yourself and your finances. ...

Don’t Be Pressured Into a Gift Card Scam: How to Protect Your Money A recent consumer alert from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office serves as a critical reminder: gift card scams remain a pervasive and costly threat. Scammers favor gift cards because they are like handing over untraceable cash. Once the PIN number is shared, the money is almost always gone for good. This guide breaks down how these scams work and provides concrete steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

What to Know About Scams as Consumer Protection Week Begins As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 gets underway, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is once again focusing its efforts on arming the public against fraud. This annual campaign, which runs from March 1-7, is a coordinated push to highlight the tools and knowledge you need to protect your money and personal information. While the specific scam tactics may evolve, the core principles of defense remain powerful and accessible to everyone. ...

FTC Spots New Scam Tactics: Here’s What to Watch For In early March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a public webinar as part of National Consumer Protection Week. The session served as a clear-eyed briefing on the fraud landscape, detailing the specific tricks that are currently working on people and, more importantly, how to shut them down. For anyone who uses email, shops online, or answers their phone, the insights were a critical reminder that scammers are constantly refining their scripts and schemes. ...

Don’t Wait for a Designated Week to Protect Yourself from Scams National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is a useful annual reminder to review our defenses against fraud. However, the most effective protection happens long before and after any awareness week. Scammers operate every day, and the principles of staying safe don’t change with the calendar. ...

What the FTC’s Latest Webinar Reveals About Today’s Scams Each March, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to review our defenses against fraud. This year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) underscored that reminder with a timely webinar, shedding light on the scam trends that are currently tricking consumers and the practical steps everyone can take to stay safe. ...

That Text About an Amazon Recall? It’s Probably a Scam. If you’ve recently gotten a text message claiming a product you bought on Amazon is under recall and needs urgent action, be very careful. Scammers are running a convincing new scheme that impersonates Amazon to exploit a very real consumer fear: product safety. ...