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How to Protect Yourself From the Latest Wave of Consumer Scams Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a timely webinar as part of National Consumer Protection Week, shining a light on the scam tactics that are currently costing people the most money and causing the most stress. While scammers constantly update their playbooks, the FTC’s insights help cut through the noise and point to the specific threats you should be watching for right now. Understanding these trends is the first, most critical step in building an effective defense. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter You receive a friendly, unexpected message. It might be on a dating app, social media, or even via a seemingly wrong-number text. The person on the other end is charming, builds rapport over weeks, and eventually shares a secret: they’ve made incredible profits through an online investment platform. They offer to help you do the same. This is the opening act of a “pig butchering” scam—a ruthless long-con where victims are emotionally “fattened up” with trust before their finances are slaughtered. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams Keeping up with the tactics of scammers can feel like a full-time job. Just as you learn to spot one scheme, another evolves to take its place. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted webinars to shed light on the most pressing fraud trends affecting consumers right now. The goal wasn’t just to warn but to equip people with practical knowledge. Here’s a breakdown of what they highlighted and the steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

How to Recognize and Resist Phishing Scams You’ve probably heard the term “phishing” before. It’s that sneaky feeling when an email from your “bank” asks you to click a link to verify your account, or when a text message about a missed package delivery seems just a bit off. At its core, phishing is a type of online scam where criminals pretend to be a trusted person or organization to trick you into giving up sensitive information—like passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security details—or into installing malicious software on your device. ...

That ‘Unpaid Parking Ticket’ Text Could Be a Scam If you’ve received a sudden, urgent message demanding payment for a parking violation you don’t remember, pause before you click. Authorities in North Carolina and beyond are warning drivers about a sophisticated new scam that uses the fear of an unexpected fine to steal money and personal information. ...

How to Recognize and Stop a “Pig Butchering” Scam Before You Lose Money You meet someone new online. The conversation starts casually, but they’re engaging, attentive, and seem genuinely interested in you. Over weeks or even months, a bond forms. Then, one day, they mention a fantastic investment opportunity—a way to build a future together. If this story sounds familiar, you might be facing one of the most insidious online frauds today: the “Pig Butchering” scam. ...

Don’t Get Hooked: A Simple Guide to Phishing Every day, millions of people open an email or a message that seems perfectly normal—only to find out later it was a trap. This digital deception has a name: phishing. It remains one of the most common and damaging online threats, not just for tech experts but for anyone with an email address or smartphone. ...

How to Spot a “Pig Butchering” Scam Before It Cleans Out Your Savings You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message on WhatsApp, social media, or a dating app. The person on the other end is charming, engaging, and over weeks or months, becomes a regular part of your digital life. They share stories, ask about your day, and build what feels like genuine trust. Then, gradually, the conversation turns to a “can’t miss” investment opportunity. This is the hallmark of a “pig butchering” scam, a devastatingly effective fraud that has prompted recent warnings from officials like New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Understanding this scam is your first and best defense. ...

Don’t Get Hooked: The Latest Scam Tactics and How to Protect Yourself Every day, the tools and tactics scammers use get a little more sophisticated. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, officials from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted the evolving fraud landscape. While the specific details from that session are summarized in a members-only industry article, the underlying trends are clear and critical for every consumer to understand. ...

What Consumer Protection Week 2026 Means for Your Online Safety Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) spearheads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a dedicated campaign to arm the public with knowledge against fraud and scams. The recently announced theme for NCPW 2026 continues this mission, offering updated resources and warnings tailored to the current digital landscape. For anyone who banks online, shops on the internet, or simply has a digital footprint, this isn’t just a bureaucratic event—it’s a timely checklist for your personal security. ...