Consumer Protection

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Your Early Guide to Staying Safe The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially announced National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) for 2026. This annual event serves as a critical reminder and resource hub, uniting government agencies and consumer advocacy groups to educate the public on avoiding scams, protecting privacy, and exercising their rights. While the full slate of events and materials for 2026 is still being developed, now is the perfect time to get informed and build your defenses. Proactive awareness is your best tool against fraud. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know for Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a nationwide campaign focused on helping people understand their rights and avoid scams. While the specific events and partner materials for NCPW 2026 are still being finalized, the core mission remains constant: to arm consumers with practical knowledge. Based on the FTC’s longstanding priorities and recent alerts, here’s a distillation of the essential, actionable advice you can expect to be central to the conversation next year. ...

That Urgent Call About Your Electric Bill? It Could Be a Scam You’re going about your day when the phone rings. The caller says they’re from a state utility commission, like the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). They claim your power bill is overdue, and if you don’t pay immediately using a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, your service will be shut off within the hour. The demand is urgent, the pressure is high, and the threat feels very real. ...

A Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 As March approaches, you might start seeing reminders for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026. This annual event, spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), isn’t just a ceremonial calendar note. It’s a concentrated, nationwide effort to arm people with the knowledge and tools they need to defend their wallets and personal information. For anyone who shops online, pays bills, or simply uses digital services, this week serves as a critical checkpoint for your financial health. ...

Your Guide to Staying Safe: Key Lessons from Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every March, a focused effort emerges to help us defend our wallets and personal data: National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again at the forefront, providing crucial advice to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape. This week is more than a reminder—it’s a toolkit. By understanding the prevailing threats and adopting a few key habits, you can build resilience against fraud that lasts all year. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Your Practical Playbook for Scam Defense As we head into another year, the tactics scammers use to part us from our money and data grow more sophisticated. That’s why the annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is more than just a calendar event—it’s a timely, focused opportunity to shore up your defenses. ...

Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than just a calendar event. It’s a coordinated nationwide effort, led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to arm you with the knowledge needed to identify, avoid, and report scams. As we approach NCPW 2026, the landscape of fraud continues to shift, making this annual focus a crucial opportunity to refresh your defenses. This guide distills the FTC’s core advice into practical steps you can use to safeguard your finances and personal information. ...

Your Guide to Staying Safe from Scams, Inspired by National Consumer Protection Week Every March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). While 2026’s event is on the horizon, the core message is timeless: protecting yourself from fraud is a year-round job. Scammers don’t take a holiday, and their tactics constantly evolve. ...

What National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Means for Your Wallet Every day, it seems there’s a new story about someone losing money to a clever scam. Whether it’s a convincing text about a package delivery or a heart-wrenching plea from a supposed relative, these threats are a constant, unsettling background noise in our digital lives. That’s why events like National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) are more than just a calendar note. ...

Utility Imposters Are Calling: How to Spot the Scam and Protect Yourself A recent alert from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) serves as a critical reminder for everyone: official agencies do not make unsolicited calls to demand immediate payment. Scammers, however, do it all the time. This isn’t just a Pennsylvania issue—it’s a widespread imposter scam where fraudsters pretend to be from your water, power, or gas company, using fear and urgency to steal your money. ...