Consumer Safety

The New Scams to Watch For, According to the FTC’s Latest Update Staying ahead of scammers is a constant challenge. Just as we learn to recognize one scheme, another evolves to take its place. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provided a timely update on this shifting landscape. During a webinar for National Consumer Protection Week in March 2026, the agency highlighted the latest fraud trends exploiting current events and persistent human vulnerabilities. ...

Why Reporting a Scam is One of the Most Important Things You Can Do You see the alert pop up on your local news site or in an email from AARP: a new scam is targeting people in your area. It might involve fake IRS agents, a fraudulent travel deal, or a phony product recall. Your first instinct might be to simply delete the message, feel relieved it didn’t catch you, and move on. But there’s a critical next step that many people skip: reporting the attempt. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams Keeping up with the latest scams can feel like a full-time job. Scammers constantly refine their tactics, exploiting new technologies and current events to catch people off guard. That’s why the information shared during the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar is so critical. The session provided a timely update on the frauds that are currently working, and more importantly, how you can stop them from working on you. ...

How “Pig Butchering” Scams Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter You receive a message from a stranger. It might be a wrong-number text, a direct message on a social media platform, or a friend request from an appealing profile. The conversation starts casually, often friendly or flirtatious. Over weeks or even months, a relationship builds. Then, an opportunity arises: a can’t-miss investment, a urgent financial favor, or a foolproof trading platform. You’re persuaded to send money, maybe just a little at first. The profits on the screen look impressive, encouraging you to send more. Eventually, when you try to withdraw your “earnings” or the relationship sours, the person—and your money—disappears. ...

How to Recognize and Stop a “Pig Butchering” Scam Before You Lose Money You meet someone new online. The conversation starts casually, but they’re engaging, attentive, and seem genuinely interested in you. Over weeks or even months, a bond forms. Then, one day, they mention a fantastic investment opportunity—a way to build a future together. If this story sounds familiar, you might be facing one of the most insidious online frauds today: the “Pig Butchering” scam. ...

Don’t Get Hooked: The Latest Scam Tactics and How to Protect Yourself Every day, the tools and tactics scammers use get a little more sophisticated. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, officials from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted the evolving fraud landscape. While the specific details from that session are summarized in a members-only industry article, the underlying trends are clear and critical for every consumer to understand. ...

Spot and Stop the Latest Scams: Practical Advice from the FTC’s Latest Briefing Every day, it seems there’s a new, sophisticated scam waiting in your inbox, your texts, or even on your doorstep. It can feel overwhelming trying to keep up. Recently, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a timely webinar to cut through the noise. They distilled the current fraud landscape into key trends and, more importantly, actionable advice for the public. ...

Why Reporting a Scam Is Your Most Powerful Defense Scams are a pervasive threat, evolving to exploit our trust and urgency. While staying informed is the first step, knowing what to do after you encounter a scam is equally critical. Recent alerts from AARP Virginia emphasize a consistent message: reporting fraud is not just about personal recourse—it’s a vital community safety measure. This guide explains the “how” and “why” of reporting, turning a moment of vulnerability into an action that protects yourself and others. ...

Don’t Get Slaughtered: A Practical Guide to Pig Butchering Scams In recent months, authorities like the New York Attorney General have issued urgent warnings about a sophisticated and devastating type of fraud. Known as “pig butchering,” this scam is not a physical threat, but a digital one that financially “fattenes up” victims before the final, brutal theft. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

Why Reporting Fraud is Your First Line of Defense In an increasingly digital world, scams have evolved from simple cons to sophisticated schemes that can target anyone. While the instinct after encountering a fraud attempt might be embarrassment or a desire to forget it happened, the most powerful action you can take is to report it. Recent alerts from organizations like AARP Virginia highlight a continuous stream of threats, from IRS impostors to fake travel deals, underscoring that fraud is not a rare event but an ongoing risk. Reporting isn’t just about your own loss—it’s a critical tool for community safety and disrupting criminal operations. ...