Digital Safety

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. ...

What You Need to Know for Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) spearheads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a dedicated time to highlight the tools and knowledge that can help you defend against scams and fraud. As we approach NCPW 2026, the landscape of threats continues to evolve, but the core principles of staying vigilant and knowing how to respond remain your best defense. ...

Staying Safe Beyond the Headlines: Practical Lessons from Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) serves as a crucial reminder of the scams and frauds that target everyday people. While the official events and announcements from agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are valuable, the real test comes in applying that awareness to our daily digital lives long after the week is over. The advice highlighted during NCPW 2026 isn’t just for a single week—it’s a set of essential practices for navigating an increasingly complex online world. ...

A Warning on Gift Card Scams: How to Protect Your Money If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding payment with a gift card, it is almost certainly a scam. This simple warning is at the heart of a recent consumer alert from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, who is urging residents to be vigilant against one of the most common and effective forms of modern fraud. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams A recent FTC webinar, held during National Consumer Protection Week, cut through the noise to outline the most pressing fraud threats facing consumers right now. While scammers constantly refine their tactics, the agency identified several trends that are currently causing significant financial and emotional harm. The core message was clear: awareness and a few critical habits are your strongest defense. ...

Don’t Just Be a Consumer, Be a Protected One: Lessons from NCPW 2026 Every year, as winter turns to spring, there’s a week dedicated not to a holiday or a season, but to you: the consumer. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is a coordinated campaign to highlight your rights and arm you against fraud. As we look ahead to NCPW 2026, the core message remains critically urgent. Scams aren’t going away; they’re just putting on new disguises. This week serves as your annual reminder and refresh course on how to spot them, stop them, and safeguard what’s yours. ...

What We Learned About Fighting Scams During Consumer Protection Week The annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) has wrapped up for 2026. Led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this event serves as a focused reminder that scams are constantly evolving, and our defenses need to keep pace. While the designated week is a catalyst for awareness, the advice it highlights is designed for year-round use. This year’s messages cut through the noise, zeroing in on some of the most pervasive and costly tricks targeting people today. ...

How to Spot and Stop the Latest Scams: Insights from the FTC’s Consumer Protection Week Scammers never take a holiday, but every March, consumer advocates do get a powerful platform to fight back. During National Consumer Protection Week, agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ramp up their efforts to educate the public. A recent FTC webinar, as highlighted in industry coverage, served as a critical update on the evolving tactics fraudsters are using to separate people from their money and personal information. Staying informed isn’t just about awareness; it’s your first and most effective line of defense. ...

The Latest Scam Tactics and How to Fight Back Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a critical reminder to review our digital defenses. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar to outline the most pervasive and evolving scams currently threatening consumers. While the tactics may shift, the core goal of fraudsters remains the same: to steal your money or personal information through deception. ...

What Scammers Don’t Want You to Know: Practical Advice from Consumer Protection Week National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is an annual event led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the lead-up to 2026 is already highlighting critical threats facing consumers today. While the week itself is a valuable awareness campaign, the core advice it offers is useful year-round. Based on consistent warnings from the FTC, one type of fraud stands out for its prevalence and effectiveness: impersonation scams. ...