Consumer Alerts

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. ...

Don’t Get Locked Out or Scammed: How to Safeguard Your Next Ticket Purchase Scoring tickets to a much-anticipated concert, playoff game, or theater show is a thrill. Unfortunately, that excitement makes fans a prime target for fraudsters. Beyond the scramble for seats lies a parallel scramble by scammers looking to steal your money, your personal data, or both. Whether you’re buying directly from a primary vendor or on the resale market, a few key security practices can significantly lower your risk of disappointment and financial loss. ...

Your Tickets Are Safe Until They Aren’t: A Guide to Outsmarting Scammers For anyone who has ever refreshed a browser tab at 10 a.m. sharp, the thrill of securing event tickets is unmatched. That excitement, however, has a dark shadow: a growing wave of sophisticated scams determined to turn your anticipation into disappointment and financial loss. From fake listings for sold-out concerts to phishing attacks designed to hijack your accounts, fraudsters are relentlessly targeting fans. ...

Don’t Get Played: A Realistic Guide to Spotting, Stopping, and Recovering from Scams It feels like a weekly occurrence: a new text about a missed delivery, an urgent call from “your bank,” or a too-good-to-be-true investment offer. Fraud isn’t just annoying; it’s costly and emotionally draining. Recent reports, including a series from Investopedia, highlight a sobering reality: identity theft spiked by 50% over the last two tax seasons, and scammers are now wielding artificial intelligence to create frighteningly convincing fakes. ...