Digital-Safety

What Scammers Are Pushing Now: Key Trends from the FTC’s Latest Update Staying ahead of scammers is a constant battle. Just when we think we’ve seen every trick, fraudsters devise new schemes or repackage old ones with a fresh, convincing twist. That’s why updates from the experts are so valuable. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar in March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted the latest scam trends currently plaguing consumers. Their insights provide a crucial snapshot of what to watch for right now. ...

What the FTC’s Latest Scam Alert Means for You Every day, scammers refine their tactics, and staying ahead of them can feel like a full-time job. That’s why events like National Consumer Protection Week are so valuable. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to spotlight the most pervasive and emerging scam trends affecting people right now. While the specific tactics evolve, the core principles of protection remain grounded in vigilance and smart habits. Here’s a breakdown of what they highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about it. ...

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. ...

Your 2026 Guide to Fraud Prevention: Making the Most of National Consumer Protection Week National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than just an annual calendar event. For consumers, it represents a crucial, concentrated opportunity to learn and fortify their defenses against an evolving landscape of fraud. In 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is once again leading the charge, providing resources and guidance to help you secure your finances and personal information. This week is a perfect time to pause and take stock of your digital safety, using expert tools to build habits that last all year. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: A Practical Guide to Scam-Proofing Your Year National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is here again. Organized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this annual event in March is more than just a calendar note; it’s a concentrated opportunity to reset your personal defenses against fraud. For 2026, the core message remains vital: understanding current scams and building stronger habits is your best protection. This isn’t about temporary vigilance but integrating smarter practices into your daily digital life. ...

Spot and Stop New Scams: Essential Tips from Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to stay vigilant against fraud. This March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shed light on the latest scam trends, providing a timely update on what tricks fraudsters are using now and how you can protect yourself. ...

Watch Out for That Parking Ticket: A New Scam Is Targeting Drivers You return to your car and see it: a parking violation notice tucked under your windshield wiper. Or perhaps a text message or email arrives, demanding immediate payment for a parking fine to avoid additional penalties. Your first instinct might be to pay it quickly and move on. But a new consumer alert warns that scammers are exploiting this very instinct, creating convincing fake violations to steal money and personal information. ...

What National Consumer Protection Week Means for Your Digital Safety For one week every March, a spotlight shines on the scams, frauds, and privacy pitfalls that can trip up consumers. That’s the purpose of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), an annual campaign led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). With NCPW 2026 on the horizon, the event serves as a timely reminder to review your defenses and understand the threats that are actively targeting wallets and identities. It’s not just about awareness; it’s about equipping yourself with practical steps that work year-round. ...

How to Protect Yourself From the Latest Wave of Consumer Scams Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a timely webinar as part of National Consumer Protection Week, shining a light on the scam tactics that are currently costing people the most money and causing the most stress. While scammers constantly update their playbooks, the FTC’s insights help cut through the noise and point to the specific threats you should be watching for right now. Understanding these trends is the first, most critical step in building an effective defense. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter You receive a friendly, unexpected message. It might be on a dating app, social media, or even via a seemingly wrong-number text. The person on the other end is charming, builds rapport over weeks, and eventually shares a secret: they’ve made incredible profits through an online investment platform. They offer to help you do the same. This is the opening act of a “pig butchering” scam—a ruthless long-con where victims are emotionally “fattened up” with trust before their finances are slaughtered. ...