The Scams You’re Most Likely to See Now, According to the FTC

National Consumer Protection Week is an important reminder to take stock of our digital defenses. To kick off the week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar focusing on the scam tactics that are currently tricking people out of their money and personal information. While the specifics of fraud constantly evolve, the recent discussion highlighted patterns that are proving particularly effective for scammers right now. Understanding these trends is your first line of defense.

What the FTC Wants You to Watch For

The webinar underscored that while new technology like AI-powered voice clones makes headlines, many of today’s most prevalent scams rely on classic psychological manipulation through trusted channels. Two major themes stood out:

  1. Impersonation Scams: This remains the top threat. Scammers are adept at posing as someone you trust—a family member in distress, a representative from your bank, a government agent from the Social Security Administration, or a tech support expert from a well-known company. The contact often comes via a phone call, text, or email that appears legitimate, creating an immediate sense of urgency or fear.
  2. Fake Invoices and Payment Demands: Businesses and individuals are being targeted with sophisticated fake bills, often for services like website hosting, domain renewal, or office supplies that were never ordered. These invoices look authentic and are designed to slip through accounting processes, especially in busy offices.

In both cases, the goal is the same: to get you to act quickly—by sending money, sharing a password, or providing access to your computer—before you have time to think or verify the story.

Why These Tactics Are So Dangerous

These scams work because they exploit fundamental human reactions: trust and urgency. A text that seems to be from your bank about a suspicious transaction triggers legitimate concern. A call from “your grandson” needing bail money preys on love and worry. A fake invoice from a regular vendor seems like routine paperwork.

Scammers count on this automatic trust and the pressure to resolve a perceived crisis quickly. In the moment, the idea to stop, hang up, and independently verify the request can feel secondary to addressing the alleged problem. This time-pressure is their greatest weapon.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to block most of these attempts. It comes down to building a few key habits.

1. Pause and Verify Independently. This is the single most important rule. If you get an urgent call, text, or email asking for money or information:

  • Hang up or close the message.
  • Find the official customer service number or email from a past statement, the back of your credit card, or the company’s official website (not from the message you just received).
  • Contact them directly to ask if the request was legitimate.

2. Know How Official Entities Really Contact You.

  • The FTC or SSA will never call, email, or text you to demand money or sensitive information like your Social Security number. They typically initiate contact by postal mail.
  • Your bank will never ask for your full password or PIN via email or text.
  • A legitimate tech company will not call you out of the blue claiming your computer is infected.

3. Strengthen Your Account Defenses.

  • Use Strong, Unique Passwords: A password manager is the easiest way to do this.
  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds a critical second step to logging in, like a code from an app, making it much harder for scammers to access your accounts even if they have your password.

4. Know What to Do If You’re Targeted. If you suspect a scam, or worse, if you’ve already sent money or information:

  • Report It: File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is crucial. Your report helps the FTC and law enforcement investigate and build cases against scammers.
  • Contact Your Bank or Card Issuer: If you sent money, call them immediately. They may be able to stop a transaction or initiate a fraud claim.
  • Secure Your Accounts: If you shared passwords, change them immediately on the affected and any similar accounts.

Staying safe is an ongoing practice, not a one-time fix. During National Consumer Protection Week and beyond, let the FTC’s alert be a prompt to reinforce your habits. Slow down, verify, and remember that no legitimate organization will ever pressure you into making a security decision on the spot.

Sources:

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) webinar on emerging scam trends during National Consumer Protection Week. Reports can be filed at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.