How to Protect Yourself from Scams: A National Consumer Protection Week Guide

As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 approaches, it’s a perfect time to sharpen your defenses against fraud. This annual initiative, led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), focuses on educating and empowering consumers. While official 2026 alerts are still forthcoming, the consistent trends from previous years offer a clear roadmap for the scams you’re most likely to encounter and how to stop them.

The Scams to Watch For

Scammers constantly update their tactics, but several schemes remain stubbornly prevalent. Being able to recognize them is your first line of defense.

Impersonation Scams: This remains one of the most common and effective tricks. A scammer pretends to be someone you trust—a government agent from the Social Security Administration or IRS, a family member in distress, a tech support expert from a well-known company, or even a romantic interest. Their goal is to create urgency and fear, pushing you to hand over money or personal information before you have time to think.

Phishing and Smishing: These are attempts to steal your data through deceptive communications. You might receive an email, text (smishing), or phone call that looks legitimate, urging you to click a link to “verify your account,” “claim a refund,” or “resolve a delivery issue.” The link leads to a fake website designed to harvest your login credentials or install malware.

Online Shopping and Fake Reviews: Fraudulent websites and social marketplace listings offer products at prices that seem too good to be true—and they are. These scams are often propped up by fake positive reviews. You pay, but the item never arrives, or you receive a cheap counterfeit.

Why This Matters Now

These aren’t hypothetical threats. According to FTC data, consumers reported losing billions of dollars to fraud in recent years, with impersonation scams often topping the list of reported losses. The digital landscape gives fraudsters easy access and a veneer of anonymity. National Consumer Protection Week serves as a critical, coordinated reminder that vigilance must be a constant habit, not a once-a-year thought.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today

Knowledge is your best tool. Here are concrete actions to protect your finances and identity.

Verify First, Act Second: If you get an urgent call, text, or email claiming to be from a government agency, bank, or utility company, hang up or don’t click. Instead, contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you know is genuine from a past bill or your card.

Guard Your Personal Information: Treat your Social Security number, bank account details, and one-time passcodes like the keys to your financial house. No legitimate organization will call, text, or email to ask for them out of the blue.

Strengthen Your Digital Hygiene:

  • Use strong, unique passwords for important accounts and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
  • Be skeptical of unsolicited offers and incredible deals online. Check independent reviews from multiple sources before buying from an unfamiliar site.
  • Think carefully about the personal details you share on social media—scammers use this information to tailor their impersonation attempts.

Know How to Report: If you encounter a scam, reporting it helps authorities track trends and take action. You can:

  • Report fraud directly to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is the primary channel.
  • Forward phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at [email protected].
  • Report scam text messages by forwarding them to SPAM (7726).

Where to Find More Help

The FTC’s website is your go-to resource. As NCPW 2026 gets closer, visit consumer.ftc.gov for the latest alerts, free articles, and videos on every consumer protection topic imaginable. You can also sign up for consumer alerts to get tips delivered directly to your inbox.

National Consumer Protection Week is more than a reminder; it’s a call to action. By understanding common scams and adopting these simple, proactive habits, you can confidently navigate the marketplace and protect what’s yours. Start putting these practices into place now—there’s no need to wait.