Cybersecurity

Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than a calendar event; it’s an annual, coordinated campaign led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and partners to arm you with the knowledge you need to avoid fraud and manage your money safely. While the official week for 2026 is typically held in early March, the lessons and habits it promotes are vital year-round. This year’s focus continues a critical trend: helping consumers spot, stop, and report scams that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims for Financial Slaughter You meet someone online. The conversation is engaging, the connection feels real, and over weeks or months, a bond of trust forms. Then, they introduce an “exclusive” investment opportunity. This isn’t just a clumsy phishing email; it’s a sophisticated, patient fraud known as “pig butchering,” and authorities like New York Attorney General Letitia James are issuing urgent warnings about its spread. ...

Don’t Get Hooked: Key Scam Trends the FTC Wants You to Know Scammers are constantly updating their playbooks, making old warnings feel out of date. To help you stay ahead, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a public webinar during National Consumer Protection Week, spotlighting the specific fraudulent tactics that are seeing a surge. Understanding these trends isn’t just about awareness—it’s your first line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Fooled: How to Spot and Stop Impersonation Scams Imagine your phone rings. The caller ID shows a familiar government agency’s name, and the person on the line says there’s a serious problem with your Social Security number or a pending arrest warrant. They sound official, even urgent. Your heart races. What do you do? ...

That Seemingly Perfect Online Connection Could Cost You Your Life Savings Last month, the New York State Attorney General’s office issued a public alert about a sophisticated and devastating scam on the rise. Known as “pig butchering,” this fraud doesn’t just steal money—it methodically fattens victims with trust and affection before the financial slaughter. Unlike a crude phishing email, it’s a long-term con that exploits our desire for connection, making it one of the most pernicious and financially damaging scams today. ...

New Survey Shows High Trust in Bank Fraud Protection—Here’s How to Bolster Your Own Defenses A recent national survey from the American Bankers Association (ABA) reveals a notable trend: a strong majority of U.S. consumers are satisfied with their bank’s efforts to protect them from fraud. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey indicates that trust in institutional safeguards remains high. ...

Consumers Are Happy with Bank Fraud Protection—Here’s How to Build on It A recent national survey offers a reassuring snapshot: most Americans are satisfied with their bank’s efforts to protect them from fraud. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, conducted for the American Bankers Association, found that a strong majority of consumers feel their bank is doing a good job safeguarding their accounts and money. ...

How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Before They Cost You A new warning from the New York State Attorney General’s office highlights a disturbing and financially devastating type of fraud on the rise. Known as “Pig Butchering,” these scams have nothing to do with livestock and everything to do with preying on people’s trust and isolating them from their own money. The name, while unusual, is brutally descriptive: scammers “fatten up” a victim with attention and false promises before “butchering” them for every dollar they can get. ...

What Your Bank’s Fraud Protection Says About Your Satisfaction A new survey confirms something many bank customers feel intuitively: our confidence in a financial institution is deeply tied to how well it protects our money. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, conducted for the American Bankers Association (ABA), highlights that consumer satisfaction isn’t just about interest rates or app design—it’s increasingly built on effective fraud prevention. ...

Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to cut through the noise and give people straightforward tools to defend themselves. The theme for NCPW 2026 continues this mission, offering updated advice and resources tailored to the current landscape of scams, fraud, and privacy threats. For anyone who shops online, manages finances, or simply wants to keep their personal information secure, this week serves as a crucial checkpoint. ...