Cybersecurity

An Official Warning About Gift Card Scams: What You Need to Know A recent consumer alert from the District of Columbia’s Attorney General serves as a stark reminder of a persistent threat. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert specifically warning District residents about the dangers of gift card scams, urging heightened vigilance. This isn’t an isolated issue for one city; it reflects a widespread fraud tactic that continues to trap people across the country. Understanding how these scams work is your first and best line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: Key Scams to Watch Now and How to Fight Back Every year, scams evolve, and the tactics fraudsters use become more convincing. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shine a light on the latest trends targeting consumers. The goal was clear: to empower people with knowledge before they become victims. ...

What to Do When Scammers Come Knocking: Lessons from Consumer Protection Week Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) spearheads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a campaign dedicated to arming people with the knowledge they need to fight fraud. As we look ahead to NCPW in March 2026, the core message remains urgent: scams are constantly evolving, but a few key principles can help you stay safe. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams During a recent webinar for National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) pulled back the curtain on the scam tactics causing the most financial harm right now. The landscape is constantly shifting, with fraudsters refining old tricks and exploiting new technologies. The core message from the agency was clear: awareness is your first and most powerful line of defense. By understanding how these scams work, you can spot the red flags before you become a victim. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Still a Major Threat. Here’s How to Protect Yourself. If someone official-sounding calls and demands immediate payment via gift card, it’s a scam. Full stop. This simple rule is at the heart of a recent consumer alert from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who warned residents about the persistent danger of gift card payment demands. While the warning was localized, the scam it describes is a nationwide epidemic targeting everyone, from students to seniors. ...

Staying Ahead of Scammers: Key Takeaways from the FTC’s Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to review our defenses against fraud. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar highlighting the latest tactics scammers are using to part people from their money and personal information. While the full details are extensive, the core message is clear: old scams are putting on new digital disguises, and vigilance is our first line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Fooled: Why Officials Are Issuing Urgent Warnings About Gift Card Scams If someone calls, texts, or emails you with an urgent demand to pay them with gift cards, it’s not a legitimate request. It’s a scam. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: Here’s How to Protect Yourself You get a call, an email, or a text. It’s urgent: a family member is in trouble, the IRS says you owe back taxes, or tech support claims your computer is infected. The solution? They insist you pay immediately using gift cards. It sounds bizarre, but this scenario is playing out countless times every day, defrauding consumers of millions. ...

Stay Ahead of Scammers: Key Takeaways from the FTC’s Latest Update Keeping up with the latest tricks used by scammers can feel like a full-time job. Just as you learn to spot one scheme, another emerges. That’s why the consistent advice from consumer protection experts is so valuable. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted ongoing and evolving scam trends that every consumer should know. The core message remains clear: awareness is your first and most powerful line of defense. ...

The Scams in Your Inbox Right Now: What the FTC Says is Changing If you feel like you’re hearing about more scams lately, you’re not imagining it. Fraud is evolving, becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar to shed light on the latest trends they’re seeing. The goal wasn’t to scare people, but to arm them with the knowledge to fight back. ...