A Warning on Gift Card Scams: How to Protect Your Money If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding payment with a gift card, it is almost certainly a scam. This simple warning is at the heart of a recent consumer alert from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, who is urging residents to be vigilant against one of the most common and effective forms of modern fraud. ...
Don’t Just Be a Consumer, Be a Protected One: Lessons from NCPW 2026 Every year, as winter turns to spring, there’s a week dedicated not to a holiday or a season, but to you: the consumer. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is a coordinated campaign to highlight your rights and arm you against fraud. As we look ahead to NCPW 2026, the core message remains critically urgent. Scams aren’t going away; they’re just putting on new disguises. This week serves as your annual reminder and refresh course on how to spot them, stop them, and safeguard what’s yours. ...
What the FTC Wants You to Know About the Latest Wave of Scams If your inbox feels like a minefield of suspicious messages and your phone rings with unknown numbers, you’re not alone. Scammers are refining their tactics, and it’s becoming harder to tell a genuine offer from a sophisticated fraud. Recently, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shed light on the most pressing scam trends of the moment. Their goal was clear: to equip everyday people with the knowledge to spot and stop fraud before it causes harm. ...
Gift Card Scams Are Surging: Here’s How to Protect Yourself If someone demands payment with a gift card, it’s a scam. Full stop. That’s the unequivocal warning from Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who issued a direct alert to District of Columbia residents in December 2025. This official notice highlights a disturbing and persistent trend: fraudsters are increasingly manipulating victims into purchasing gift cards under false pretenses, leading to rapid, irreversible financial loss. While the alert targeted local residents, the tactics described are a nationwide problem. Understanding how these scams work is your first and best defense. ...
What You Really Need to Know to Avoid Scams in 2026 As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 approaches, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is gearing up to provide its latest, most relevant guidance. This annual event is more than just a calendar note; it’s a concentrated effort to arm you with the knowledge to protect your money and your identity. The scams of tomorrow are already taking shape today, and being prepared is your first line of defense. ...
Staying Ahead of Scams: Practical Lessons from Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) serves as a crucial reminder to pause and review our digital and financial defenses. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance continues to spotlight a troubling consistency: the most effective scams are often the oldest tricks, repackaged for new technology. The core lesson remains that vigilance, not technical expertise, is your best defense. ...
How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Before You’re Targeted If you’re active on social media, dating apps, or even professional networking sites, you should be aware of a sophisticated and devastating fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is as brutal as the crime: scammers “fatten up” a victim with trust and affection before “butchering” them for their money. ...
New Survey Shows High Trust in Bank Fraud Protection—Here’s How to Bolster Your Own Defenses A recent national survey from the American Bankers Association (ABA) reveals a notable trend: a strong majority of U.S. consumers are satisfied with their bank’s efforts to protect them from fraud. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey indicates that trust in institutional safeguards remains high. ...
Don’t Get Slaughtered: Understanding the “Pig Butchering” Scam You meet someone new online. They’re friendly, charming, and share your interests. Over weeks or months, a digital friendship—or even romance—blossoms. Then, they mention an incredible investment opportunity that’s making them rich. They want to help you get in on it, too. ...
Consumers Are Happy with Bank Fraud Protection—Here’s How to Build on It A recent national survey offers a reassuring snapshot: most Americans are satisfied with their bank’s efforts to protect them from fraud. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, conducted for the American Bankers Association, found that a strong majority of consumers feel their bank is doing a good job safeguarding their accounts and money. ...