Cybersecurity

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. ...

How to Spot and Stop the Latest Scams: Essential Tips for Consumers Intro Every time you check your email, answer a call, or scroll through social media, you’re potentially interacting with a scammer. The tactics are constantly changing, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to shed light on the latest trends. Instead of focusing on the agency itself, let’s break down what they highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about it. ...

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. ...

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. ...

Key Takeaways from the FTC’s Latest Scam Alert Webinar During National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a public webinar to outline the most pressing fraud threats facing consumers today. The session served as a timely reminder that while the digital landscape evolves, so do the tactics of scammers. The goal was clear: to turn awareness into action by providing the public with the latest information on how scams are changing and what they can do about it. ...

Survey Says: People Trust Their Banks on Fraud. Here’s Why You Still Need to Be Proactive. Recent surveys from the banking industry paint an encouraging picture of consumer confidence. According to a National Survey released in April 2025 by the American Bankers Association (ABA), U.S. consumers report being happy with their banks and specifically “applaud banks’ fraud protection efforts.” This sentiment is echoed in the Fall 2025 Morning Consult Survey Results on consumer satisfaction, which indicate high marks for banking services, including security measures. ...

How to Spot and Stop the Latest Scams: A Guide from the FTC Every year, scammers refine their tactics, creating new schemes and repackaging old ones to catch people off guard. During this year’s National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to spotlight the most current and pressing fraud trends targeting consumers today. This update isn’t just bureaucratic news; it’s a crucial heads-up on what traps to avoid right now. By understanding how these scams work, you can better protect your finances and personal information. ...

The Insider Threat: When Bank Employees Become Partners in Crime In the digital age, we’re often warned about shadowy hackers in far-off countries. But what happens when the threat comes from inside the very institutions we trust to guard our money? A recent police case in India has highlighted a disturbing trend: bank officials actively helping criminals launder stolen funds. For the average consumer, this isn’t just a news headline—it’s a wake-up call to understand how these schemes work and how to better protect yourself. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter In a recent official warning, New York Attorney General Letitia James alerted the public to a sophisticated and devastating financial fraud known as “pig butchering.” This isn’t a minor swindle; it’s a long-term con that blends emotional manipulation with complex financial deception, leaving victims emotionally devastated and financially ruined. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

Fraud Alerts vs. Credit Freezes: Which One Actually Protects You? In an age of frequent data breaches, protecting your credit from identity thieves isn’t just prudent—it’s essential. Luckily, federal law provides you with two powerful, free tools to guard your financial identity: the fraud alert and the credit freeze. While they sound similar, they work very differently. Choosing the right one depends on your specific situation and how you balance protection with convenience. ...