What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, making it crucial to stay informed. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted the latest trends in fraud, offering a timely update on what to watch for. Understanding these evolving schemes is your first and best line of defense. ...
The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Spot It and Protect Your Money You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message. A wrong number, perhaps, or a new connection on social media. The conversation starts casually, but over weeks or months, it evolves. Your new contact is personable, shares stories of their success, and eventually reveals an “exclusive” investment opportunity with incredible returns. This is the opening act of a devastating financial fraud known as “pig butchering,” and authorities like New York Attorney General Letitia James are urging the public to be on high alert. ...
How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted Gift cards are convenient presents, but they have become a favorite tool for scammers. In December 2025, the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning residents about a rise in gift card fraud, echoing similar warnings from consumer protection agencies across the country. The message is straightforward: no legitimate company or government agency will ever demand payment with a gift card. Yet thousands of people fall for this trick every year, losing hundreds of dollars each time. ...
How to Spot and Stop a Gift Card Scam A family member texts you in a panic: they’ve been in a minor car accident and need money for the deductible right now. They ask you to buy several hundred dollars worth of gift cards and send the codes immediately. You want to help, so you rush to the store. ...
What the FTC Wants You to Know About Current Scams If you feel like you’re hearing about new scams more often, you’re not imagining it. Fraudsters constantly refine their tactics, and what worked to protect yourself a year ago might not be enough today. That’s why the information shared by regulators is so critical. During the recent National Consumer Protection Week in March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar specifically to dissect the latest scam trends circulating right now. While the full details are best heard from the source, understanding the overarching themes they highlighted can give you a significant advantage in spotting and stopping fraud before it causes harm. ...
Don’t Get Butchered: Understanding and Avoiding “Pig Butchering” Scams Imagine building a friendship or even a romance online, one that grows over weeks or months. This person seems to care, sharing stories and offering investment advice that sounds too good to be true. They encourage you to put in a little money, and at first, you see impressive—but fake—gains. Then, when you try to withdraw your now-larger sum, it vanishes, along with the person you trusted. ...
Don’t Get Fleeced: How to Recognize and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams You meet someone new online. The conversation is engaging, the connection feels genuine, and over weeks or months, a bond of trust develops. Then, they mention a lucrative, low-risk investment opportunity they’ve used to build wealth. Eager to share their good fortune, they encourage you to join in. This is not a modern fairy tale; it’s the opening act of a devastating financial fraud known as a “pig butchering” scam. Following a recent consumer alert from the New York State Attorney General’s office, understanding this threat is more critical than ever. ...
Your Guide to the Latest Scam Trends and How to Stay Safe Each year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to review our digital habits. This year, a key event was an FTC webinar dedicated to unpacking the latest scam trends. With fraudsters constantly refining their tactics, this update isn’t just informative—it’s a necessary tool for safeguarding your finances and personal information. ...
That Friendly Online Investor Might Be Fattening You Up for a Slaughter You strike up a conversation with someone on a dating app, social media, or even through a seemingly wrong-number text. They’re charming, interested, and over weeks or months, a genuine connection seems to form. Eventually, the topic turns to money—specifically, an incredible investment opportunity they’ve found. They show you screenshots of their own massive profits and encourage you to join in. What begins as a small, successful test deposit can spiral into a devastating financial loss. This isn’t a bad romance or a lucky break gone wrong; it’s a sophisticated fraud known as “pig butchering.” ...
Don’t Get Towed by a Parking Ticket Scam If you find a parking violation notice on your windshield or receive one in the mail, your first reaction might be annoyance followed by a quick check of your wallet. Scammers are banking on that exact sequence. Authorities, including the North Carolina Department of Justice, are warning drivers about a rise in fraudulent parking tickets designed to steal your money and personal information. Understanding how this scam works is your first line of defense. ...