Digital Security

That Urgent Call for Gift Cards Is a Scam: Here’s How to Protect Yourself Imagine this: your phone rings. The caller ID shows a local number, or perhaps it even spoofs the name of a government agency like the IRS or Social Security Administration. The person on the other end sounds official, even intimidating. They tell you there’s a serious problem—a warrant for your arrest, a frozen bank account, a family member in jail, or a virus on your computer. The solution, they insist, is simple and immediate: go to a store, buy gift cards, and read the card numbers over the phone to resolve the issue. ...

When Your iPhone Rings, Should You Answer? You’ve felt that buzz in your pocket. You glance at the screen to see an urgent alert from your “bank,” a call from a local number about a “suspended” account, or a message claiming you’ve won a prize. Your instinct might be to tap or answer immediately, especially if the caller ID looks familiar. But that instinct is exactly what scammers are banking on. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: A Practical Guide for Everyone Gift cards are meant to be a convenient present or a simple way to budget spending. Unfortunately, they’ve also become a favorite tool for scammers. The problem is widespread enough that consumer protection agencies regularly issue warnings. Most recently, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb highlighted the threat in an official alert to residents, urging heightened vigilance. These scams aren’t confined to one city or region—they target people everywhere. Understanding how they work is the first step in protecting yourself and your money. ...

How to Spot and Avoid the Latest Scams Every year, the landscape of fraud shifts. Scammers are relentless innovators, always refining their tactics to exploit new technologies and current events. During the recent National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to spotlight the most pressing and emerging scam trends affecting people today. This annual focus provides a crucial snapshot of what to watch for. Understanding these patterns isn’t about fostering fear; it’s about building practical defenses. Here’s a breakdown of the key trends highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about them. ...

The Current Scam Landscape: Insights from a Recent FTC Webinar Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, and keeping up can feel like a full-time job. A recent webinar hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) during National Consumer Protection Week provided a timely update on the schemes that are tricking people right now. While the specifics evolve, the core principles of defense remain steady: skepticism, verification, and knowing where to turn for help. ...

How to Spot and Avoid “Pig Butchering” Scams A new warning from New York State Attorney General Letitia James highlights a disturbing and increasingly common financial fraud known as “pig butchering.” While the alert is aimed at New Yorkers, this scam targets people everywhere. The name, derived from a grim agricultural metaphor, describes how scammers “fatten up” a victim with trust and romance before “butchering” them for their money. Understanding how this scheme works is the first step in protecting yourself. ...

Don’t Fall for These 2026 Scam Trends: Practical Advice from an FTC Alert Intro Every day, we’re bombarded with emails, texts, and calls. Most are harmless, but a growing number are sophisticated traps designed to steal your money and personal information. During National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar to spotlight the latest scam trends that are fooling even the most cautious consumers. While the full details of that session aren’t publicly available, the alert serves as a critical reminder that scammers are constantly refining their tactics. Understanding their current playbook is your first and best line of defense. ...

The “Friendly Stranger” Scam: How “Pig Butchering” Cons People Out of Their Savings If you get a message from a stranger—maybe on WhatsApp, social media, or a dating app—strike up a friendly conversation, and eventually, they start talking about a “foolproof” investment opportunity, you might be dealing with more than just a new acquaintance. You could be the target of a sophisticated, long-term fraud known as a “pig butchering” scam. ...

The Latest Scams and How to Spot Them: Advice from the FTC We check our phones dozens of times a day, making quick decisions about texts, emails, and calls. It’s in these routine moments that modern scammers set their traps. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to outline the latest tricks fraudsters are using and how consumers can fight back. ...

Don’t Tap That Link: How to Spot Fake Amazon Recall Texts You get a sudden text message. It says there’s a critical safety recall for something you recently ordered from Amazon, and you need to act immediately to get a refund or replacement. It looks urgent, maybe even a little scary. Before you click, stop. This is a growing scam designed not to protect you, but to steal your personal and financial information. ...