Fraud Alerts

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Advice from VA and Federal Agencies Online shopping offers convenience, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. The Department of Veterans Affairs has published multiple alerts warning veterans and their families about common shopping scams and how to stay safe. This article draws on those official sources and similar guidance from the FDIC to give you practical, actionable steps. ...

Top scams to avoid right now: FTC’s 2026 consumer protection guide National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 ran from March 2 to March 6, and the Federal Trade Commission used the occasion to update its advice on the most common scams affecting Americans. The timing is no accident: scams tend to spike during tax season and around major holidays, so having a clear, up-to-date picture of what fraud looks like can help you avoid losing money or personal information. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Scams This National Consumer Protection Week Every March, the Federal Trade Commission kicks off National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) – a concentrated effort to help people spot fraud and avoid losing money. This year, the agency’s message is straightforward: scammers are getting more convincing, but the basics of protecting yourself haven’t changed. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Key Takeaways to Stay Ahead of Scams National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 ran from March 2 through March 6. If you missed the events or the flurry of online posts, don’t worry—the advice the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shared remains useful year-round. This article recaps what happened, why it matters even after the week is over, and what concrete steps you can take right now to protect yourself. ...

Fraud Victims See Credit Scores Rise: How Extended Alerts Can Help You Recover Getting hit by financial fraud feels like a violation. You worry about money you lost, accounts hijacked, and the long cleanup. But new research from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank offers a surprising finding: many fraud victims who use extended fraud alerts end up with better credit scores than before the incident. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: FTC’s Top Tips to Outsmart Scammers National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 wrapped up on March 6, but the advice the Federal Trade Commission shared during the campaign is worth holding onto all year. The FTC uses this annual event to spotlight the scams that are currently causing the most harm and to remind people of the practical steps they can take to protect themselves. Whether you followed along live or are just catching up, here are the key takeaways from this year’s campaign. ...

How Extended Fraud Alerts Affect Your Credit Score: What the Fed’s New Research Reveals If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you’ve probably heard about placing an extended fraud alert on your credit report. The standard advice has been: do it to stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name. But a recent study from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank suggests there may be an unexpected upside—and it has to do with your credit score. ...

Fraud Victims May See Credit Scores Rise: What That Means for You If you’ve been the victim of identity theft, the conventional advice is to place a fraud alert on your credit file. That alert signals to lenders that they should take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts. Most people assume that doing so will only make borrowing harder and could even ding their credit score. But recent research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia tells a more nuanced story. ...

NCPW 2026: What the FTC Wants You to Know About Scams and Fraud National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 wrapped up in early March, but the advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) remains as relevant as ever. Whether you missed the events or just want a refresher, here’s a clear look at the most important consumer protection tips from this year’s campaign. ...

What You Can Learn from National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads a coordinated campaign to empower people against scams and fraud. This initiative, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), is scheduled for early March 2026. While the event itself is a concentrated burst of awareness, the core advice it promotes is valuable every day of the year. The FTC’s message is straightforward: with the right knowledge, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. ...