Cybersecurity Tips

Your Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 For one week each March, a nationwide spotlight shines on a critical issue: keeping your money and identity safe. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is more than just an awareness campaign. It’s a concentrated effort to arm you with the knowledge and tools you need to fight back against scams and fraud. With NCPW 2026 on the horizon, now is the perfect time to understand what this week offers and how you can use its resources to build stronger personal defenses. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams The digital world offers incredible convenience, but it also creates new opportunities for fraudsters. To help the public fight back, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a key webinar during National Consumer Protection Week. The session focused on arming consumers with knowledge about the latest scam trends that are costing people time, money, and peace of mind. Understanding these tactics is the first, most critical step in building your personal defense. ...

A Recent Official Warning Highlights a Simple, Costly Fraud If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding payment with a gift card, it is a scam. Full stop. This isn’t just common sense advice; it’s the core message from an official consumer alert. In December 2025, Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a specific warning to District of Columbia residents about the pervasive threat of gift card scams. These schemes continue to drain millions from consumers nationwide by exploiting trust and urgency. ...

Essential Consumer Protection Tips for 2026: How to Outsmart Scammers National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is an annual initiative led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), typically held in early March. For 2026, the focus remains sharply on equipping you with the knowledge to recognize, avoid, and report the most pervasive scams threatening your wallet and personal information today. While the specific weekly dates for 2026 are yet to be finalized, the FTC’s consistent advice provides a reliable defense playbook you can use right now. ...

Don’t Get Scammed: How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Fraud It starts with a call, a text, or an email. The person on the other end sounds urgent—maybe they claim to be from the IRS, your utility company, a tech support agent, or even a family member in a sudden crisis. Their demand is always the same: pay them immediately, and pay with a gift card. If you hesitate, they’ll pressure you with threats of arrest, service shut-offs, or permanent consequences. ...

What to Do When Someone Pretends to Be Your Bank, the Government, or a Loved One Every March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other consumer protection agencies mark National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). It’s a coordinated push to share advice that helps people recognize and avoid scams. While the week itself is a useful prompt, the guidance is designed for year-round use. ...

Staying Safe Beyond the Headlines: Practical Lessons from Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) serves as a crucial reminder of the scams and frauds that target everyday people. While the official events and announcements from agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are valuable, the real test comes in applying that awareness to our daily digital lives long after the week is over. The advice highlighted during NCPW 2026 isn’t just for a single week—it’s a set of essential practices for navigating an increasingly complex online world. ...

That Urgent Call for Gift Cards? It’s a Scam. If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding immediate payment with a gift card, stop. You are almost certainly talking to a scammer. This isn’t a new scheme, but it remains devastatingly effective, prompting consumer protection offices like that of District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb to issue renewed warnings to the public. ...

A Practical Guide to Consumer Safety During NCPW 2026 As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 kicks off, it serves as a crucial, annual reminder to review your defenses against fraud. While this week of awareness, spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), runs from March 2nd, its lessons are meant to last all year. The FTC uses this time to highlight resources and educate the public, but the real work begins with each consumer taking proactive steps. Here’s how you can use this week to build stronger habits for recognizing scams, protecting your information, and knowing where to turn for help. ...

How to Spot and Stop an Account Takeover Before It Happens You get a text about a login from an unfamiliar device. An email receipt arrives for something you didn’t buy. Your usual password suddenly doesn’t work. These are the unsettling signs of an account takeover—a form of fraud that’s becoming alarmingly common. Recently, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection issued an alert about a significant rise in these incidents, urging consumers to take immediate steps to protect their digital lives. ...