Top Scam Trends the FTC Wants You to Know About Right Now

Every year during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission shares its latest findings on what frauds are costing Americans the most money and which tactics are spreading fastest. This year’s webinar, held in early March 2026, highlighted several scam types that continue to evolve and grow. Here is a practical summary of the trends that matter most to consumers, along with steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.

What Happened

The FTC webinar, covered by ACA International, presented data on current scam trends drawn from consumer reports and law enforcement partners. While the exact numbers were not publicly released in the summary, the agency pointed to three categories as particularly concerning:

  • Government impersonation scams – callers posing as Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare officials.
  • Romance scams – fraudsters building fake relationships online to request money.
  • Investment scams, especially those involving cryptocurrency – offers that promise high returns with little risk.

The FTC also noted that younger adults are reporting financial losses from scams more often than before, though older adults still tend to lose higher amounts per incident.

Why It Matters

Scams are not just annoying phone calls. They cause real financial harm. According to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, losses reported by consumers have been climbing year after year. Impersonation scams alone accounted for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in recent years. Romance scams remain costly because they play on emotions, and crypto investment scams are hard to reverse once money is sent.

The trends highlighted during the webinar are likely underreported. Many victims feel embarrassed or do not know how to report. That makes it even more important for the public to recognize warning signs early.

What Readers Can Do

Spot the red flags

For impersonation scams:

  • Government agencies will never call demanding immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
  • They will not threaten arrest or deportation for non-payment.
  • Hang up and call the agency directly using a verified number from their official website.

For romance scams:

  • Be wary if someone you meet online professes strong feelings quickly and then asks for money before meeting in person.
  • Common excuses: medical emergency, travel costs, or a problem with their bank account.
  • Never send money to someone you haven’t met face-to-face.

For investment scams (especially crypto):

  • Promises of guaranteed returns or “risk-free” profits are false.
  • Scammers often pose as financial advisors or use fake celebrity endorsements.
  • Only invest through registered platforms. Check the SEC’s EDGAR database or your state securities regulator.

What to do if you are targeted

  • Stop communication immediately. Do not send more money.
  • Contact your bank or credit card company to try to recover funds.
  • Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This helps law enforcement track patterns.
  • If you gave personal information, consider freezing your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
  • For romance or investment scams, notify the platform where you met the scammer.

Staying Ahead

The best defense is awareness. Share what you learn with family and friends. Scammers adapt quickly, but so can consumers if they know what to look for. The FTC offers free resources at ftc.gov/consumer for anyone who wants to go deeper.

Stay skeptical of unsolicited contacts, keep personal information private, and when in doubt, verify from a trusted source before acting.

Sources

  • FTC Consumer Protection Webinar, March 2026 (covered by ACA International)
  • FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data (recent annual reports)
  • ReportFraud.ftc.gov