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Gift Card Scams Are Surging: What the DC Attorney General’s Recent Alert Means for You If you’ve ever received an unexpected phone call demanding payment by gift card, you are not alone. Last December, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert specifically warning residents about the rise of gift card scams. The alert, published on the OAG website, highlights how scammers are targeting consumers with increasingly convincing stories—and how quickly money can disappear once a gift card code is shared. ...

New Scam Trends Revealed in FTC Webinar: What You Need to Know Every year, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to highlight the latest fraud tactics targeting Americans. This year, a March 2026 webinar brought together consumer advocates and law enforcement to discuss current scam trends. If you missed it, the key takeaways are worth knowing — not because the scams are new, but because they keep evolving. ...

Fraud Surge Targeting Older Adults: How to Protect Yourself from Tech Scams Introduction Scammers are increasingly reaching older Americans through phones, emails, and computers. Recent reports from CBS News and AARP show that fraud targeting people over 50 is climbing sharply, with impersonation scams now the most common type. In Florida alone, more than $258 million was stolen from older adults in 2025. While no one is immune, knowing the tactics and taking simple precautions can make a real difference. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: How to Spot Them and Protect Your Money If you receive an unexpected phone call or email demanding payment with a gift card, you are almost certainly being targeted by a scammer. Gift card scams have become one of the most common and costly frauds in the United States, and law enforcement agencies across the country are seeing a sharp increase in reports. The reason is simple: once a gift card code is shared, the money is nearly impossible to recover. ...

New FTC Data Reveals Top Scams Consumers Face Right Now Each year during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission releases a fresh look at the fraud landscape. In a webinar held in early March 2026, FTC officials walked through the latest data on what scams are hitting Americans hardest—and what consumers can do about it. The information is timely: scam tactics evolve quickly, and awareness remains one of the best defenses. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Key Takeaways to Stay Ahead of Scams National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 ran from March 2 through March 6. If you missed the events or the flurry of online posts, don’t worry—the advice the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shared remains useful year-round. This article recaps what happened, why it matters even after the week is over, and what concrete steps you can take right now to protect yourself. ...

Account Takeover on the Rise? Here’s How to Protect Your Online Accounts In August 2025, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection issued an alert about a significant increase in account takeover incidents. If you use online banking, email, social media, or any service that stores personal information, this matters to you. Account takeover is a form of identity theft where criminals gain access to your existing accounts — often by stealing your credentials — and then use them to commit fraud, make unauthorized purchases, or steal additional data. ...

How to Spot Tech Scams Targeting People Over 50 Fraud directed at older adults is increasing sharply, and technology is the primary vehicle. Recent reports from CBS News and AARP show that impersonation scams alone surged 148 percent in the past year, and in Florida, people over 50 lost more than $258 million in 2025. These numbers represent real people who received a phone call, an email, or a pop‑up that sounded urgent and legitimate — and then lost savings in minutes. ...

New Scam Trends from the FTC: What You Need to Know Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a reminder that fraud evolves quickly. During the 2026 event, the Federal Trade Commission held a webinar outlining the latest patterns in consumer scams. The agency also dedicated a separate session to financial schemes that disproportionately affect military personnel and their families. Here’s a practical summary of what was shared and how you can lower your risk. ...

Pig Butchering Scams: How to Protect Yourself from This Growing Fraud Introduction In February 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about a particularly cruel form of investment fraud known as “pig butchering.” While the warning was aimed at New Yorkers, the scam is spreading nationwide and has already cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Understanding how this scam works—and learning to spot the warning signs—is critical for anyone using dating apps, social media, or cryptocurrency platforms. ...