Consumer Protection

Account Takeover on the Rise? Here’s How to Protect Your Online Accounts In August 2025, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection issued an alert about a significant increase in account takeover incidents. If you use online banking, email, social media, or any service that stores personal information, this matters to you. Account takeover is a form of identity theft where criminals gain access to your existing accounts — often by stealing your credentials — and then use them to commit fraud, make unauthorized purchases, or steal additional data. ...

New Scam Trends from the FTC: What You Need to Know Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a reminder that fraud evolves quickly. During the 2026 event, the Federal Trade Commission held a webinar outlining the latest patterns in consumer scams. The agency also dedicated a separate session to financial schemes that disproportionately affect military personnel and their families. Here’s a practical summary of what was shared and how you can lower your risk. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Still Thriving: What the Latest D.C. Alert Means for You Gift cards are a convenient way to give presents, but scammers have turned them into a preferred payment method for fraud. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. While the alert targets D.C. residents, the advice applies to anyone who receives an unexpected demand for payment via gift card. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Key Tips to Avoid Scams Each year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its partners dedicate the first week of March to National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). For 2026, NCPW ran from March 1 through March 7, serving as a focused reminder that scams and identity theft don’t take a holiday—and neither should your awareness. While the official week has passed, the advice issued by the FTC remains just as relevant today as it was during the campaign. ...

Top Consumer Protection Tips from the FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) runs National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to help Americans stay informed about scams, identity theft, and fraud. This year’s campaign, which ran in early March 2026, provided a fresh set of warnings and practical advice that remain relevant even after the official events ended. If you missed it, here’s a summary of the most important points and what you can do to protect yourself. ...

New FTC Data Reveals Top Scams to Watch Out for in 2026 Every year during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosts a webinar to share emerging fraud trends and practical advice. This year’s session, summarized by ACA International, highlighted several scams that are currently affecting consumers at higher rates. If you want to stay ahead of the people running these schemes, understanding what they are and how they operate is the first step. ...

Three Emerging Scam Trends from the FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week Webinar Every March, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to highlight the latest fraud tactics hitting consumers. This year’s webinar, held in early March 2026, focused on three scam trends that are growing quickly: AI-powered impersonation, fake delivery notifications, and QR code phishing. If you’ve received a suspicious call, text, or QR code lately, knowing how these scams work can help you avoid losing money or personal information. ...

NCPW 2026: What You Need to Know to Avoid Scams and Protect Your Wallet Intro Every year in early March, the Federal Trade Commission leads a nationwide campaign called National Consumer Protection Week. NCPW 2026 is no exception. It’s a week-long push to help consumers spot fraud, protect their personal information, and know what to do if they’ve been scammed. The official hub for all resources is ftc.gov/ncpw, where the FTC publishes free materials, tips, and event listings. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC’s Top Tips to Outsmart Scammers National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 wrapped up on March 6, but the advice the Federal Trade Commission shared during the campaign is worth holding onto all year. The FTC uses this annual event to spotlight the scams that are currently causing the most harm and to remind people of the practical steps they can take to protect themselves. Whether you followed along live or are just catching up, here are the key takeaways from this year’s campaign. ...

Here is the blog draft, written as a natural, practical article for general consumers. It avoids hype and SEO formulas, and integrates the required sections organically. Top Consumer Protection Tips from National Consumer Protection Week 2026 ...