Cybersecurity

The New Scam Playbook: What Fraudsters Are Trying Now Every day, scams become more sophisticated, blending into our digital routines. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to shed light on the latest tactics criminals are using. While the exact details of every emerging scam shift constantly, the patterns and psychological tricks remain consistent. Understanding these patterns is your best defense. ...

Banking on Safety: What Recent Surveys Tell Us About Protecting Your Money A nagging worry for many of us is the security of our bank accounts. We hear stories about sophisticated scams and data breaches, leaving us to wonder: are our financial institutions keeping up? Recent surveys from the banking industry offer a revealing look at both consumer confidence and the ongoing threats, providing a useful roadmap for where we should focus our own security efforts. ...

What National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Means for Your Digital Safety National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than a calendar event; it’s a concentrated effort led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and partners to empower you with the knowledge to fight fraud. Scheduled for early March 2026, NCPW 2026 serves as a critical reminder that consumer protection is a year-round need, especially in our increasingly digital lives. The week focuses on education, providing free resources and events designed to help you spot scams, secure your data, and understand your rights. This year’s initiative continues a long-standing tradition of tackling pressing issues, with digital safety, identity theft, and evolving fraud tactics taking center stage. ...

The Latest Scam Threats and How to Protect Yourself Every year, scammers refine their tactics, and keeping up can feel like a full-time job. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to spotlight the current fraud landscape. The session, highlighted by ACA International, provided a clear-eyed look at the methods causing the most harm today. Understanding these trends is your first and best line of defense. ...

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. ...

Don’t Get “Fattened Up”: How to Spot and Stop a Pig Butchering Scam If you’re active on social media, dating apps, or even in your text messages, you should know about a sophisticated and devastating scam on the rise. It’s called “pig butchering,” and as New York Attorney General Letitia James recently warned, it’s a serious threat targeting people across the state and the country. The name is grim but accurate: scammers “fatten up” their victims with trust and affection over weeks or months, only to “butcher” them for their life savings. Understanding how it works is your first line of defense. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scams During National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted an important webinar to spotlight the latest methods scammers are using to part people from their money. These events are a key part of the agency’s mission, offering timely insights directly from the frontline of fraud prevention. While specific details of the latest webinar are often summarized by reporting organizations like ACA International, the overarching message is consistent: scammers are endlessly inventive, but knowing their current playbook is your best defense. ...

Don’t Be a “Fat Pig”: How to Spot and Stop Pig Butchering Scams A practical guide to recognizing—and escaping—this cruel, long-con investment fraud. Introduction You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message from a stranger on social media, a dating app, or even SMS. The conversation flows naturally, a connection forms over weeks, and trust builds. Then, they mention an incredible investment opportunity. This is the start of a “pig butchering” scam, a brutally effective fraud named for the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter. The scammer “fattens” your trust before financially butchering you. ...

Staying Ahead of Scammers: Key Trends from the FTC’s Latest Briefing Every day, we’re inundated with texts, emails, and calls. Most are legitimate, but some are carefully crafted traps. Keeping up with how these traps are being set is the first step to avoiding them. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shed light on the most current and pressing scam trends. The insights are a crucial update for anyone who uses a phone, email, or the internet—which is to say, all of us. ...

What Are Pig Butchering Scams, and How Can You Avoid Them? You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message on social media or a dating app. The conversation flows easily, trust builds over weeks or even months, and eventually, your new “friend” shares an incredible investment opportunity. This slow-burn con is known as a “pig butchering” scam, and authorities are sounding the alarm. New York Attorney General Letitia James recently issued a consumer alert specifically warning residents about this sophisticated fraud. Understanding its mechanics is your first line of defense. ...