Top Scam Trends from the FTC’s 2026 Consumer Protection Webinar – And How to Stay Safe

Top Scam Trends from the FTC’s 2026 Consumer Protection Webinar – And How to Stay Safe

Every March, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to highlight the most pressing fraud threats facing Americans. This year, the FTC’s webinar, held in early March 2026 and reported by ACA International, pointed to several scam categories that are growing in both frequency and sophistication. If you’re trying to keep your money and personal data safe, understanding these trends is a practical first step.

What Happened

The FTC’s presentation drew on the agency’s latest consumer complaint data, showing that imposter scams remain the most commonly reported fraud type. In these schemes, callers or emailers pretend to be government officials (such as the Social Security Administration or the IRS), tech support representatives, or even family members in distress. The goal is almost always to pressure victims into sending money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.

Online shopping fraud also continues to climb, especially around fake websites and social media ads that offer goods at steep discounts. The FTC noted that these scams often involve payment methods that are hard to reverse, such as wire transfers or peer-to-peer apps.

Investment scams—particularly those tied to cryptocurrency “opportunities” and “get-rich-quick” offers—are another rising category. According to the webinar, losses in this area have been substantial, though exact figures vary by reporting period.

A separate session during the webinar focused specifically on scams targeting military personnel and their families. As ACA International’s follow-up article explained, service members face unique vulnerabilities, including frequent moves, deployment stress, and a higher likelihood of trusting anyone in uniform. Common military-specific scams include fraudulent loans, fake housing listings near bases, and identity theft from stolen personal data.

Why It Matters

The real cost of these scams isn’t just financial. Many victims experience lasting stress, damage to their credit, and in some cases, identity theft that takes years to resolve. Imposter scams alone account for billions of dollars in reported losses annually, and underreporting is common—many people feel embarrassed or simply don’t know where to report.

What makes these trends particularly concerning is how quickly scammers adapt. When the FTC or news outlets warn about one tactic, fraudsters often pivot to a new one within weeks. That means consumers can’t rely solely on yesterday’s advice; they need a set of habits that work regardless of the specific scam.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. The following steps are concrete, proven, and recommended by the FTC itself.

1. Verify unexpected contacts. If someone calls, emails, or texts claiming to be from a government agency, a bank, or a family member, hang up and call the official number you already have on file—not the one the caller provides. Scammers often spoof real phone numbers, so caller ID is not reliable.

2. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). This adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts, especially email, banking, and social media. Even if a scammer gets your password, they can’t log in without the second factor—usually a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app.

3. Monitor your financial accounts regularly. Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount, and check your bank and credit card statements at least once a week. The sooner you spot unauthorized activity, the easier it is to dispute.

4. Slow down and question urgency. Scammers rely on making you feel rushed. If someone pressures you to act immediately—whether to pay a fine, claim a prize, or “rescue” a relative—it’s almost certainly a scam. Take a moment to pause and verify independently.

5. Report scams when you encounter them. The FTC collects reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Even if you didn’t lose money, your report helps the agency track trends and alert others. For identity theft specifically, visit IdentityTheft.gov for step-by-step recovery plans.

6. For military families: use official resources. If you’re in the military or a military spouse, rely on resources like Military OneSource and your installation’s legal office before signing any contract or paying any fee. Scammers often pose as companies that claim to have special deals for service members.

Sources

• ACA International, “FTC Webinar Highlights Latest Scam Trends During National Consumer Protection Week,” March 5, 2026.
• ACA International, “FTC Webinar Highlights Responding to Military Financial Scams,” March 17, 2026.
• Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IdentityTheft.gov.