Consumer Advice

Holiday Shopping Scams: 5 Ways to Spot and Avoid Them This Year If you are shopping online this holiday season, you are also shopping for fraudsters. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a significant jump from the $10 billion reported in 2023. Online shopping scams consistently rank among the top complaint categories, and during the holiday rush—when people are busy, distracted, and looking for deals—scammers increase their efforts. ...

Don’t Tell AI Everything: The Real Privacy Risks of Chatbots and How to Stay Safe It’s easy to treat an AI chatbot like a private confidant. You ask it to draft a sensitive email, summarize a medical record, or even vent about a personal problem. The interface feels one-on-one, and the responses seem harmless. But that feeling of privacy is largely an illusion. ...

Why Privacy Can’t Keep Up with AI — and What You Can Do About It The latest annual privacy survey from TrustArc, a privacy management firm, confirms what many users have suspected: AI adoption is racing ahead of the safeguards meant to protect personal data. According to the survey, 78 percent of organizations report that their privacy capabilities are struggling to keep pace with how quickly they’re deploying AI tools. Meanwhile, 65 percent of consumers say they are worried about how AI companies use their data. ...

Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season: What You Need to Know The holiday season is prime time for online shopping—and, unfortunately, for scammers looking to take advantage of rushed buyers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported fraud losses in the United States hit $12.5 billion in 2024, a significant jump from previous years. Impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as well-known retailers, delivery services, or even friends, were among the top categories. ...

Five Things You Should Never Tell an AI Chatbot to Keep Your Money Safe AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot have become go‑to tools for quick answers, help with writing, and even personal finance advice. They can simplify tasks, from drafting emails to summarizing investment options. But that convenience comes with a real privacy trade‑off. The conversations you have with these bots are often stored, sometimes reviewed by human trainers, and could be exposed in a data breach. Knowing what not to share is the first step to protecting your money and identity. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Practical Advice to Avoid Scams and Fraud Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of government agencies, advocacy groups, and businesses run National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). The 2026 edition took place March 2–6, and its goal was straightforward: give people the tools to recognize, avoid, and report fraud, identity theft, and other consumer scams. Even though the week itself has passed, the guidance remains timely. Here’s a look at what was covered and how you can apply the advice year-round. ...

NCPW 2026: Essential Consumer Protection Tips from the FTC National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 has come and gone, but the advice the Federal Trade Commission published during that week remains as useful as the day it came out. Scams evolve fast, but the basic patterns of fraud — someone pretending to be someone they’re not, pressuring you to act quickly, asking for money or personal information — stay the same. This article pulls together the most practical, actionable guidance from the FTC’s NCPW 2026 campaign so you can recognize common scams, protect your identity, and know exactly what to do if something goes wrong. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC’s Top Tips to Avoid Scams Every March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) — a campaign that brings together government agencies, consumer groups, and businesses to spread practical advice on preventing fraud and safeguarding personal information. The 2026 edition offered a clear set of recommendations that are worth revisiting long after the week ends. If you missed the campaign, or simply want a refresher, here is a concise summary of what the FTC highlighted and how you can apply those lessons year-round. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC’s Top Tips to Stay Safe Every year, the Federal Trade Commission runs National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to help people recognize scams and protect their money and personal information. This year marks the 26th annual event, and the FTC has published its usual round of free resources at ftc.gov/ncpw. Whether you have already been targeted by a scam or just want to be more prepared, the advice is straightforward and worth reviewing. ...

Lessons from National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC Advice That’s Still Worth Following National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 came and went in early March, but the advice the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) put out during that week is the kind that doesn’t expire. If you missed the official campaign, or even if you saw parts of it, the core messages about spotting scams and protecting your personal information are worth revisiting. ...