Consumer Protection

Your Practical Guide to Staying Safer in a World of Scams Every March, agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlight National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a focused effort to arm people with knowledge against fraud. While the event itself is a useful calendar marker, the advice it promotes is crucial year-round. As we look ahead, the landscape of scams isn’t disappearing; it’s evolving. Here’s a straightforward look at how you can protect your finances and personal information. ...

How the Latest Scams Are Evolving—and How to Fight Back If you feel like you’re hearing about more scams lately, you’re not imagining it. Fraudsters are constantly refining their tactics, finding new ways to exploit trust and urgency. To mark National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a webinar outlining the most pressing scam trends they’re seeing right now. The goal wasn’t to scare people, but to arm them with knowledge. Understanding how these schemes work is the first, and most powerful, step in avoiding them. ...

How to Recognize and Fight Back Against This Year’s Top Scams Every year, scammers refine their tactics, using new technologies and current events to trick people out of money and personal information. Staying ahead of these schemes is a constant challenge. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to highlight the latest scam trends that are currently impacting consumers. While the full details are covered in their session, understanding the overarching themes can give you a powerful advantage in protecting yourself and your family. ...

Your Annual Check-Up for Digital Self-Defense is Here National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) rolls around every March, and while it might not have the fanfare of a major holiday, it’s arguably more important for your financial health. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is once again leading the charge, turning a spotlight on the practical steps you can take to guard your money and personal information. Think of it less as a bureaucratic observance and more as your annual reminder to audit your digital safety habits. ...

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. ...

Your Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Practical Steps to Fight Fraud National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is here again, running from March 1-7, 2026. While it’s a coordinated campaign led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), its real value lies in what you do with it. This week is less about observance and more about action—a dedicated time to audit your personal defenses against the relentless waves of scams, fraud, and identity theft. This guide cuts through the noise to give you clear, practical ways to protect yourself, using the excellent (and free) resources the FTC provides. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Current Scam Threats The landscape of fraud is constantly shifting, with scammers refining old tricks and inventing new ones to catch us off guard. Staying informed is the first, and perhaps most crucial, line of defense. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shed light on the latest trends they’re seeing, offering vital insights to help you protect your wallet and your identity. ...

Why Reporting a Scam is Just as Important as Avoiding One We often focus on how to spot and avoid scams—and for good reason. But what happens after a scam attempt, successful or not, is just as critical. Recent alerts from organizations like AARP Virginia highlight a relentless wave of fraud, from IRS impostors to sophisticated travel and product recall schemes. These alerts consistently carry one crucial piece of advice beyond mere vigilance: report it. ...

Your Credit, Your Control: Choosing Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze In an age where data breaches are frustratingly common, taking proactive steps to protect your credit is a cornerstone of financial safety. Two of the most powerful tools at your disposal are the fraud alert and the credit freeze. While they sound similar, they function quite differently. Understanding which one to use—and when—can save you from the headache of identity theft without unnecessarily complicating your financial life. ...

The Scams to Watch Now, According to the FTC’s Latest Briefing The digital world offers incredible convenience, but it also provides new avenues for fraudsters. Every year, scammers refine their tactics, making their schemes more convincing and harder to spot. Staying ahead of these threats requires reliable, up-to-date information. That’s why the insights shared during the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar are so valuable. The session highlighted the specific scam trends that are currently ensnaring people, providing a crucial snapshot of where the danger lies right now. ...