When Scammers Strike, Why Reporting Is Your Best Defense It’s an unsettling reality: a new scam seems to pop up every week. You might get a threatening call from an “IRS agent,” a too-good-to-be-true travel offer, or an alarming message about a fake product recall. The instinct for many is to simply hang up, delete the email, and try to forget about it. After all, you didn’t fall for it. What’s the harm? ...
Spotting Parking Ticket Scams: A New Warning for Drivers If you receive a text or email demanding immediate payment for a parking ticket you don’t remember getting, pause before you click. Law enforcement officials are warning of a new wave of sophisticated parking violation scams designed to trick drivers into paying fines that don’t exist. ...
The New Scams in Your Inbox and How to Sidestep Them Keeping up with scam artists can feel like a full-time job. Just as we learn to spot one scheme, a new, more convincing one takes its place. Recently, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar to shed light on the latest tactics fraudsters are using. The goal wasn’t to scare consumers, but to arm them with knowledge. The trends highlighted show a clear shift toward digital impersonation and exploiting current events to create a false sense of urgency. ...
What Scammers Are Doing Now—and How to Stay One Step Ahead Keeping up with the latest scams can feel like a full-time job. Just as you learn to spot one scheme, a new, more convincing one pops up. That’s why events like the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent webinar, held during National Consumer Protection Week, are so valuable. They pull back the curtain on what fraudsters are currently doing, giving you the knowledge to protect yourself. Based on insights from that session, here’s a look at the evolving scam landscape and practical ways to shield your money and information. ...
Don’t Just Get Mad, Report It: A Practical Guide to Stopping Scams When a scammer tries to trick you, the first wave of emotion is often anger, followed by embarrassment. You might want to just block the number, delete the email, and put the whole thing behind you. But there’s a critical step that many people skip: reporting the fraud. ...
Beyond Satisfaction: What the 2025 Banking Survey Really Means for Your Security A recent survey commissioned by the American Bankers Association (ABA) found something noteworthy: a strong majority of U.S. consumers report being satisfied with their bank’s efforts to prevent fraud. This data, collected by Morning Consult in the fall of 2025, indicates a significant level of trust in the financial industry’s security measures. While this is encouraging news, it’s not a reason for complacency. The fight against fraud is a partnership. Understanding what banks are doing—and what you must do alongside them—is the key to truly protecting your money and identity. ...
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. ...