Fraud Prevention

Top Scam Trends from the FTC’s 2026 Consumer Protection Webinar – And How to Stay Safe Every March, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to highlight the most pressing fraud threats facing Americans. This year, the FTC’s webinar, held in early March 2026 and reported by ACA International, pointed to several scam categories that are growing in both frequency and sophistication. If you’re trying to keep your money and personal data safe, understanding these trends is a practical first step. ...

Don’t Get Fooled by a Gift Card Demand: What an Attorney General’s Warning Means for You If someone urgently demands payment via a gift card, it’s almost certainly a scam. This isn’t just a hunch—it’s a consistent warning from law enforcement. Recently, Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a direct alert to District of Columbia residents, highlighting the persistent threat of gift card scams. These frauds continue to trap people across the country, exploiting trust and urgency to steal millions. Understanding how these scams work is your first and best defense. ...

The FTC’s Latest Warning: How to Spot Today’s Top Scams The world of scams never sleeps, and keeping up with the latest tricks can feel like a full-time job. To mark National Consumer Protection Week in March 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to cut through the noise. Their goal was straightforward: to highlight the most pervasive and damaging scam trends currently threatening people’s wallets and personal information. While new variations emerge constantly, the FTC’s insights provide a clear picture of what you should be watching for right now. ...

How to Spot and Avoid the New Parking Ticket Scam If you drive, your inbox or phone is likely familiar with messages about appointments, deliveries, or toll charges. Scammers are banking on that familiarity with a new scheme designed to catch you off guard: fake parking violation notices. ...

A New Wave of Fake Parking Tickets: How to Protect Yourself If you receive a sudden text or email about an unpaid parking ticket, take a deep breath before you react. The North Carolina Department of Justice has issued a consumer alert warning drivers about a sophisticated new scam. Criminals are sending fraudulent parking violation notices, hoping to panic you into handing over money and personal information. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scam Landscape The digital world offers incredible convenience, but it also creates new opportunities for fraud. To mark a recent National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar spotlighting the latest tactics scammers are using to part people from their money and personal information. The session wasn’t just a list of threats; it was a crucial update on how these threats are evolving. For anyone who banks online, shops on the internet, or simply has a phone, understanding these trends is the first step in building a strong defense. ...

Watch Out for Text Messages About Unpaid Parking Tickets If you drive in North Carolina, be extra careful about text messages claiming you have an unpaid parking ticket. The state’s Department of Justice has issued a consumer alert warning of a new scam where fraudsters pose as official agencies to steal your money and personal information. ...

The Scams Changing Fast: What the FTC Wants You to Watch For Every March, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to review our defenses against fraud. This year, a key event was a public webinar hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which pulled back the curtain on the scams that are currently tricking the most people. The insights shared weren’t just statistics; they were a clear guide to the specific traps being set today. ...

A New Parking Ticket Scam Is Targeting Drivers. Here’s How to Spot It. If you receive a text or email demanding immediate payment for a parking violation you don’t remember, pause before you click. Law enforcement officials are warning of a new scam designed to panic drivers into handing over money and personal information. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scams Every day, it seems scammers come up with a new story to separate us from our money or personal information. Staying ahead of these threats can feel like a full-time job. That’s why the recent insights from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), shared during National Consumer Protection Week, are so valuable. They cut through the noise and highlight exactly what fraudsters are doing right now. ...