Digital Safety

Parking Ticket Text? Don’t Click. Here’s the New Scam to Watch For If you drive in North Carolina—or frankly, anywhere—you should be on the lookout for a new, convincing text message scam. Posing as a local parking authority, fraudsters are sending urgent messages about unpaid parking violations, hoping to steal your personal and financial information. The North Carolina Department of Justice issued an alert about this scheme in March 2026, warning drivers not to take the bait. ...

Don’t Fall for Fake Fines: How to Spot a Parking Ticket Scam If you drive, you’re likely no stranger to the sinking feeling of finding a parking ticket on your windshield. But what if that violation notice arrives by text or email, demanding immediate payment? That’s the red flag of a new scam, recently highlighted by authorities in North Carolina, that targets drivers with fake fines. ...

What the Latest FTC Scam Alert Means for You Last month, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a crucial webinar detailing the current landscape of fraud. The central message was clear: while the core tactics of scammers remain consistent—pressure, deception, and exploiting emotion—the delivery methods and specific ruses are constantly adapting to new technologies and current events. For anyone who uses email, a phone, or social media, understanding these trends isn’t just useful; it’s a necessary part of digital life. ...

Your Practical Guide to Avoiding Scams and Fraud Every year, fraudsters get a little more clever, but so do the tools and knowledge available to fight back. That’s the core purpose of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a campaign led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As we look ahead to NCPW 2026, the message remains vital: the best defense against scams is an informed and proactive consumer. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself, based on the enduring principles promoted by this annual event. ...

Your Practical Guide to Staying Safer in a World of Scams Every March, agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlight National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a focused effort to arm people with knowledge against fraud. While the event itself is a useful calendar marker, the advice it promotes is crucial year-round. As we look ahead, the landscape of scams isn’t disappearing; it’s evolving. Here’s a straightforward look at how you can protect your finances and personal information. ...

Your Annual Check-Up for Digital Self-Defense is Here National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) rolls around every March, and while it might not have the fanfare of a major holiday, it’s arguably more important for your financial health. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is once again leading the charge, turning a spotlight on the practical steps you can take to guard your money and personal information. Think of it less as a bureaucratic observance and more as your annual reminder to audit your digital safety habits. ...

Why Reporting a Scam is Just as Important as Avoiding One We often focus on how to spot and avoid scams—and for good reason. But what happens after a scam attempt, successful or not, is just as critical. Recent alerts from organizations like AARP Virginia highlight a relentless wave of fraud, from IRS impostors to sophisticated travel and product recall schemes. These alerts consistently carry one crucial piece of advice beyond mere vigilance: report it. ...

How Satisfied Are Bank Customers with Fraud Protection? A major survey released in late 2025 offers a revealing snapshot of how Americans feel about their bank’s efforts to keep their money safe. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, commissioned by the American Bankers Association (ABA), found that a strong majority of consumers report high satisfaction with their bank’s fraud protection measures. ...

Your Digital Wallet Is a Target. Here’s How to Lock It Down. If you’ve ever used Venmo to split dinner, Zelle to pay rent, or PayPal for an online purchase, you’re part of a massive shift in how we handle money. These apps are incredibly convenient, turning our phones into pocket-sized banks. But that convenience has a shadow: a dramatic increase in sophisticated scams targeting everyday users. Consumer protection agencies, like the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, are now issuing specific alerts about these risks. The message is clear: as our habits change, so must our vigilance. ...

Don’t Just Get Mad, Report It: A Practical Guide to Stopping Scams When a scammer tries to trick you, the first wave of emotion is often anger, followed by embarrassment. You might want to just block the number, delete the email, and put the whole thing behind you. But there’s a critical step that many people skip: reporting the fraud. ...