Consumer Alerts

Don’t Get Slaughtered: A Guide to Spotting “Pig Butchering” Scams Imagine building a genuine connection with someone online. The conversations are deep, the future seems bright, and they start sharing a financial opportunity that sounds too good to be true. This is the insidious start of a “pig butchering” scam, a cruel fraud that is devastating victims across the country. In February 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a stark warning about these sophisticated cons. Understanding how they work is your first and best line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Fattened Up: A Practical Guide to “Pig Butchering” Scams A stark warning from New York Attorney General Letitia James has put a spotlight on a disturbing and financially devastating trend: “pig butchering” scams. These are not quick cons but elaborate, long-term schemes designed to slowly gain a victim’s trust before stealing their life savings. The name itself is a grim metaphor—scammers “fatten up” their targets with affection and false promises before “butchering” them financially. ...

Heads Up, Drivers: How a New Parking Ticket Scam Works and How to Avoid It If you own a car, your inbox or text messages might be the next target for scammers. Authorities, including the North Carolina Department of Justice, have issued alerts about a convincing new fraud: fake parking violation notices. These scams are designed to create a sense of urgency, tricking drivers into paying money they don’t owe and potentially stealing their personal information in the process. ...

Don’t Get Butchered: How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams You get a friendly, seemingly random message on social media, WhatsApp, or a dating app. The conversation turns to cryptocurrency or other “can’t-miss” investment opportunities. Before you know it, you’re being guided to send money to a platform that looks legitimate, only to watch your investment—and your new “friend”—vanish. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s a sophisticated fraud known as “pig butchering,” and authorities are sounding the alarm. ...

Bank Fraud Protection Gets High Marks, But Your Vigilance Still Matters A recent series of surveys from the American Bankers Association (ABA) offers a snapshot of how Americans feel about their banks and, importantly, the security measures protecting their money. The key takeaway is largely positive: a significant majority of U.S. consumers report being happy with their bank and specifically applaud banks’ fraud protection efforts. This is encouraging news, suggesting that financial institutions are investing in and deploying tools that customers notice and appreciate. ...

The Long Con: Understanding and Avoiding “Pig Butchering” Scams You meet someone online. The conversation starts casually—perhaps on a social media platform, a dating app, or even via a seemingly wrong-number text. They’re friendly, engaging, and over weeks or months, a bond of trust develops. Then, they mention a lucrative investment opportunity. You make a small initial deposit and watch your returns soar on a slick-looking website. Encouraged, you invest more. And then, when you try to withdraw your now-substantial “profits,” the platform stalls, the contact vanishes, and your money is gone. ...

Don’t Get Played: A Real-World Guide to Spotting, Stopping, and Recovering from Scams It’s a stressful reality of modern life: sophisticated scams are on the rise. From AI-generated voices that sound like a distressed family member to phishing emails that look indistinguishable from real ones, fraudsters are constantly refining their tactics. Recent data, including reports of a 50% surge in identity theft over the past two tax seasons, underscores that this isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a significant financial and personal risk. The good news is that you are not powerless. By understanding the current landscape and implementing a few key habits, you can dramatically reduce your risk and know exactly what to do if you’re targeted. ...

Your Guide to Staying Ahead of Scams During Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, fraudsters devise new schemes, but the core principles of protection remain steadfast. As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gears up for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) from March 1-7, 2026, their focus is on equipping you with timeless, practical defense strategies. While specific event details for 2026 are still unfolding, the FTC’s foundational advice provides a powerful toolkit you can use right now to safeguard your money and identity. ...

Beyond the Welcome Message: Practical Safety Lessons from NCPW 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than an annual reminder from the Federal Trade Commission—it’s a call to action. Each March, the FTC and its partners use this week to spotlight the most pressing threats facing consumers, distilling complex risks into practical advice. With the theme for NCPW 2026 now public, the focus is on empowering you to proactively guard your personal and financial information. Here’s what you need to know and, more importantly, what you can do. ...

What We Learned from the FTC’s Latest Scam Alert Webinar Last month, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a critical webinar. Its goal was straightforward: to arm the public with knowledge about the most current and convincing scams circulating today. A follow-up session also focused specifically on financial scams targeting military service members. These events highlight a continuous shift in how fraudsters operate, moving beyond tired email cons to exploit the very technologies we use daily. ...