Consumer Alerts

Attorney General Issues Warning: How “Pig Butchering” Scams Are Targeting New Yorkers In February 2026, New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a formal consumer alert about a particularly insidious type of fraud: “pig butchering” scams. While the name may sound unusual, the financial damage is brutally real. This warning highlights a growing threat that leverages fake online relationships to fatten up victims—the “pigs”—before financially butchering them. Understanding this scam is the first critical step in preventing it. ...

What You Need to Know About Consumer Protection in 2026 Every March, a coalition of government agencies and consumer advocacy groups leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). Its goal is straightforward: to help people understand their rights and spot scams before they cause harm. As we look ahead to NCPW 2026, the core principles of defense remain timeless, but the tactics used by fraudsters keep evolving. Here’s a practical look at the enduring threats and the essential habits you can build to protect yourself, based on the ongoing work of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). ...

How to Recognize the Scams Targeting You Right Now Each year, scammers refine their tactics, exploiting new technologies and current events to catch people off guard. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a series of public webinars to shed light on these evolving threats. The sessions provided a clear look at the methods fraudsters are using in 2026 and, crucially, how you can defend yourself. ...

How to Spot and Stop the Latest Scams: Essential Tips for Consumers Intro Every time you check your email, answer a call, or scroll through social media, you’re potentially interacting with a scammer. The tactics are constantly changing, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to shed light on the latest trends. Instead of focusing on the agency itself, let’s break down what they highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about it. ...

How Satisfied Are Bank Customers with Fraud Protection? A major survey released in late 2025 offers a revealing snapshot of how Americans feel about their bank’s efforts to keep their money safe. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, commissioned by the American Bankers Association (ABA), found that a strong majority of consumers report high satisfaction with their bank’s fraud protection measures. ...

Your Digital Wallet Is a Target. Here’s How to Lock It Down. If you’ve ever used Venmo to split dinner, Zelle to pay rent, or PayPal for an online purchase, you’re part of a massive shift in how we handle money. These apps are incredibly convenient, turning our phones into pocket-sized banks. But that convenience has a shadow: a dramatic increase in sophisticated scams targeting everyday users. Consumer protection agencies, like the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, are now issuing specific alerts about these risks. The message is clear: as our habits change, so must our vigilance. ...

Survey Says: People Trust Their Banks on Fraud. Here’s Why You Still Need to Be Proactive. Recent surveys from the banking industry paint an encouraging picture of consumer confidence. According to a National Survey released in April 2025 by the American Bankers Association (ABA), U.S. consumers report being happy with their banks and specifically “applaud banks’ fraud protection efforts.” This sentiment is echoed in the Fall 2025 Morning Consult Survey Results on consumer satisfaction, which indicate high marks for banking services, including security measures. ...

Watch Out for This Convincing New Parking Ticket Text Scam If your phone buzzes with a text demanding immediate payment for a parking violation, your first instinct might be panic. Before you react, take a breath—it could be a scam. Law enforcement and consumer protection agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), are warning drivers about a sophisticated new wave of text-based fraud. Scammers are posing as city officials or law enforcement to steal money and personal information through fake parking ticket notices. ...

Survey Shows We Trust Banks with Fraud. Here’s How to Make That Trust Pay Off A recent national survey offers some reassuring news for anyone who banks online. According to the Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey commissioned by the American Bankers Association, U.S. consumers are broadly happy with their banks and specifically applaud their fraud protection efforts. In an era of constant headlines about scams and data breaches, it’s a significant vote of confidence in the security measures financial institutions have put in place. ...

The Insider Threat: When Bank Employees Become Partners in Crime In the digital age, we’re often warned about shadowy hackers in far-off countries. But what happens when the threat comes from inside the very institutions we trust to guard our money? A recent police case in India has highlighted a disturbing trend: bank officials actively helping criminals launder stolen funds. For the average consumer, this isn’t just a news headline—it’s a wake-up call to understand how these schemes work and how to better protect yourself. ...