The FTC Just Warned About These Scams—Here’s What You Need to Know

Scammers are relentless, and their tactics constantly evolve. To stay safe, you need to know what they’re up to right now. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar focused on the latest trends in consumer fraud. While the full details of that specific session aren’t publicly published, the agency consistently highlights patterns that are ensnaring people today. Based on their ongoing advisories, here are the current scam types you should be watching for and concrete steps you can take.

What Scams Are Circulating Now?

The FTC’s warnings consistently point to a few dominant, evolving fraud categories. The current landscape isn’t about brand-new inventions, but rather sophisticated twists on old tricks designed to exploit current events, technology, and human psychology.

  • Imposter Scams (More Convincing Than Ever): This remains a top threat. Scammers pretend to be someone you trust—a family member in distress, a government agent from the IRS or Social Security Administration, tech support from a well-known company, or even a romantic interest. The twist now is the use of AI-generated voices or deepfake videos to make these pleas for money or personal information shockingly realistic. A grandparent might hear a grandson’s voice pleading for bail money, or you might get a video call from what looks like your boss instructing you to wire funds.
  • Phishing Gets Personalized: Gone are the days of obvious “Dear Sir” emails. Phishing attempts are now highly targeted, using data from previous breaches to make emails and texts look legitimate. You might get a message that appears to be from your bank, your utility company, or a package delivery service, referencing a recent transaction or account detail to lower your guard. The link leads to a flawless fake login page designed to steal your credentials.
  • Online Shopping and Fake Review Fraud: With more people shopping online, scams related to fake websites, social marketplace fraud, and bogus reviews are booming. Scammers create attractive websites selling in-demand items (like event tickets, popular gadgets, or pet supplies) at prices that seem too good to be true. The items never arrive, or are counterfeit. They often bolster these sites with fabricated five-star reviews.
  • Investment and “Money-Making” Schemes: Cryptocurrency and other online investment scams are prevalent. Promises of guaranteed high returns with no risk, pressure to act quickly, and complex jargon are hallmarks. Similarly, “money-makeover” or “get-rich-quick” schemes on social media often turn out to be pyramid schemes or outright theft.

Why This Update Matters

You might think you could spot these scams, but the techniques are becoming dangerously effective. The use of AI in imposter scams, for instance, bypasses our natural skepticism because we trust our eyes and ears. The financial and emotional toll is significant. According to FTC data, consumers reported losing billions to fraud in recent years, with imposter scams leading in total reported losses.

The point of the FTC’s webinar and similar efforts is to bridge the gap between the scammers’ innovation and public awareness. Knowing the current method of attack is the first and most critical step in building your defense.

How You Can Protect Yourself Today

Knowledge is only useful when applied. Here are practical actions you can implement immediately, drawn from the FTC’s standard guidance.

  1. Slow Down and Verify. Pressure to act immediately is the scammer’s greatest weapon. If you get an urgent call, text, or email demanding money or information, pause. Hang up the phone. Do not click links in unsolicited messages. Instead, contact the organization or person directly using a verified phone number or website you know is real (e.g., from your bank statement or the official company site).
  2. Interrogate Unexpected Digital Contact. Be deeply skeptical of any voice, video, or message that appears to be from a loved one in crisis, especially if it asks for money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Establish a family code word or have a plan to call back on a known number to confirm.
  3. Fortify Your Accounts. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every important account (email, bank, social media). Do not use text messages for 2FA if you can avoid it; opt for an authenticator app. This makes it exponentially harder for phishers to succeed.
  4. Research Before You Buy. For online shopping, research the seller. Look beyond the reviews on the product page. Search for the company name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Check how long the website has been registered using a free “whois” lookup tool. If it was created last month, be wary. Pay with a credit card, which offers stronger fraud protection than debit cards or wire transfers.
  5. Know the Unmistakable Red Flags.
    • Payment Methods: Anyone who demands payment via gift cards, wire transfer (like Western Union or MoneyGram), or cryptocurrency is almost certainly a scammer. Legitimate businesses and government agencies do not operate this way.
    • Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: An investment with “guaranteed” high returns or a luxury item at a 90% discount is a fantasy designed to hook you.
    • Unsolicited Contact: A real prize, loan, or tech support offer you didn’t apply for isn’t real.

Report and Stay Informed

If you encounter a scam, even if you didn’t lose money, report it. Your report helps the FTC and law enforcement track trends and take action. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For ongoing updates, you don’t need to wait for a webinar. Bookmark the FTC’s consumer advice site (consumer.ftc.gov) and consider subscribing to their consumer alerts. Staying informed is not a one-time task—it’s an essential habit for modern digital life.

Sources:

  • Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice & Alerts (consumer.ftc.gov)
  • FTC Data Spotlight Reports
  • FTC Public Statements on National Consumer Protection Week