Every March, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to highlight the latest fraud tactics hitting consumers. This year’s webinar, held in early March 2026, focused on three scam trends that are growing quickly: AI-powered impersonation, fake delivery notifications, and QR code phishing. If you’ve received a suspicious call, text, or QR code lately, knowing how these scams work can help you avoid losing money or personal information.

What happened

During the webinar, FTC staff outlined current threats based on consumer complaints and law enforcement data. The presentation was covered by ACA International, a trade group for credit and collection professionals, and the key takeaways are consistent with recent FTC alerts.

1. AI voice cloning and impersonation scams. Scammers are using readily available voice-cloning tools to mimic the voice of a family member, coworker, or authority figure. The caller might say they’ve been in an accident and need money urgently. The fake voice can sound convincing enough to fool even people who know the real person well. The FTC noted that these calls often come from unknown numbers and pressure victims to pay quickly via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

2. Fake package delivery texts and emails. With more people shopping online, phony delivery alerts are surging. You receive a text or email that looks like it’s from a major carrier (UPS, FedEx, USPS). It says you have a missed delivery and need to click a link to reschedule. The link leads to a phishing page that asks for your address, credit card details, or login credentials. According to the FTC, these messages often use urgent language like “action required” to make you click without thinking.

3. QR code phishing (“quishing”). QR codes are convenient, but scammers are placing fake codes in public places—on parking meters, restaurant tables, or even mailed flyers. When scanned, the code leads to a fake website that mimics a real company’s login page. Entering your credentials hands them over to the scammer. The FTC warned that quishing can be harder to spot because a QR code looks harmless and doesn’t show a URL until you scan it.

Why it matters

Scams that use AI, fake delivery messages, or QR codes are particularly dangerous because they exploit trust and convenience. AI voice cloning makes impersonation far more believable than old-fashioned robocalls. Delivery scams capitalize on the fact that most of us are expecting packages. QR code phishing bypasses email filters and can catch even cautious people off guard. The financial losses from these scams can be significant, and recovering money is often difficult.

What readers can do

There’s no single solution, but a few habits can reduce your risk:

  • Verify unexpected calls. If someone calls claiming to be a relative or official in distress, hang up and call that person back on a number you know is real. Ask a private question only they would know.
  • Don’t click links in unsolicited texts. If you get a delivery message you weren’t expecting, visit the carrier’s official website or app directly. Type the tracking number there, not from the message.
  • Inspect QR codes before scanning. Look for tampering (a sticker placed over the original code). When possible, ask for the URL typed out. After scanning, check the website address carefully for misspellings.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts (banking, email, social media). This makes it harder for scammers to get in even if they steal your password.
  • Report scams to the FTC. File a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Even if you didn’t lose money, your report helps authorities track emerging tactics.

Sources

  • FTC webinar, National Consumer Protection Week, March 2026. Summary reported by ACA International.
  • Federal Trade Commission consumer alerts and fraud data.