After National Consumer Protection Week: How to Keep Applying the FTC’s Advice All Year

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 took place in early March, hosted by the Federal Trade Commission alongside a broad coalition of federal, state, and local agencies. While the official week has passed, the guidance released during NCPW remains the most concise, actionable set of consumer protection tips available from the U.S. government. If you missed the announcements or simply want a refresher, the core advice is worth reviewing now—especially with tax season in full swing and scammers adjusting their tactics year-round.

What Happened During NCPW 2026

The FTC and its partners used NCPW 2026 to highlight the most common frauds affecting American consumers and to promote the tools the agency provides for reporting and recovering from scams. According to the FTC’s own data, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a figure that has grown each year. The week’s campaign focused on four main areas: spotting imposter scams, recognizing phishing attempts, protecting personal information, and knowing where to report fraud.

A dedicated section on the FTC’s website—consumer.ftc.gov—was updated with downloadable tip sheets, videos, and sample social media content that anyone can still access. The agency also used the week to push its free newsletter, Consumer Alerts, and to remind the public about ReportFraud.ftc.gov as the single federal portal for reporting scams.

Why It Still Matters

Consumer protection isn’t a one-week activity. Scams evolve quickly, but the warning signs change much more slowly. The same phishing email that looked like it came from your bank in 2025 has been repackaged for 2026, often with a fake invoice or a notice about a package delivery. Tax-related identity theft tends to spike between January and April, making this period particularly high-risk.

Moreover, many people still don’t know where to turn after they’ve been targeted. The FTC’s data shows that less than half of fraud victims report the crime to any authority. NCPW 2026 aimed to reduce that gap by making the reporting process easier and more visible.

What You Can Do Right Now

Based on the FTC’s NCPW 2026 advice, here are five concrete steps you can take today—and keep using year-round.

1. Pause before you act on unexpected messages. Scammers rely on urgency. A caller claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, a text saying your account is locked, or an email with a “limited-time” investment offer are all designed to push you into a decision before you have time to think. Hang up, close the message, and contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you know to be legitimate.

2. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication. This remains the simplest defense against account takeover. If you reuse passwords across sites, a breach at one company can give scammers access to your email, bank, or social media. A password manager can generate and store unique passwords for each service. Two-factor authentication adds an extra step that blocks most automated attacks.

3. Freeze your credit. You can freeze your credit reports at each of the three major bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—for free. A freeze prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name, even if they have your Social Security number. You can temporarily lift the freeze when you apply for credit yourself.

4. Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports. Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount. Check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com at least once a year. The FTC recommends checking each bureau’s report once every four months for continuous coverage.

5. Report scams immediately. If you’ve been targeted or have lost money, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to identify trends, shut down scams, and sometimes return money to victims. You can also forward phishing emails to [email protected] and report unwanted robocalls to the Do Not Call Registry.

Where to Find More Help

The FTC’s consumer advice site (consumer.ftc.gov) has detailed guides on specific topics such as job scams, romance scams, fake online reviews, and identity theft recovery. For identity theft specifically, IdentityTheft.gov walks you through creating a recovery plan step by step.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a scam, the FTC also operates a hotline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Call volumes can be high, but the online reporting system is generally the fastest option.

Staying Alert After the Week Is Over

National Consumer Protection Week 2026 may have ended, but the advice it promoted is designed to be used every day. Scammers count on people forgetting the basics. A few minutes spent reviewing your passwords, setting up alerts, or freezing your credit can pay off for years.

The safest approach is to treat any unsolicited request for money or personal information with skepticism—and to know exactly where to go if something doesn’t feel right. That’s the core message the FTC repeats every year, and it works.

Sources

  • Federal Trade Commission. “Welcome to NCPW 2026 – Consumer Advice.” consumer.ftc.gov, March 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “Get ready for NCPW 2026.” consumer.ftc.gov, February 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “It’s time to start planning for NCPW 2026.” consumer.ftc.gov, February 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “Start planning for National Consumer Protection Week 2025.” consumer.ftc.gov, January 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “Celebrate National Consumer Protection Week. Talk about scams.” consumer.ftc.gov, March 2024.