Fraud Prevention

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 Ahead of Scammers: Key Takeaways from the FTC’s Consumer Protection Week Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to review our defenses against fraud. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar highlighting the latest tactics scammers are using to part people from their money and personal information. While the full details are extensive, the core message is clear: old scams are putting on new digital disguises, and vigilance is our first line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Fooled: Why Officials Are Issuing Urgent Warnings About Gift Card Scams If someone calls, texts, or emails you with an urgent demand to pay them with gift cards, it’s not a legitimate request. It’s a scam. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: Here’s How to Protect Yourself You get a call, an email, or a text. It’s urgent: a family member is in trouble, the IRS says you owe back taxes, or tech support claims your computer is infected. The solution? They insist you pay immediately using gift cards. It sounds bizarre, but this scenario is playing out countless times every day, defrauding consumers of millions. ...

Don’t Get Fooled: Practical Ways to Outsmart Today’s Top Scams With another National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) upon us, federal agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are doubling down on their mission: equipping you with the knowledge to protect your money and your identity. Scammers aren’t taking a break, and their tactics are constantly evolving. This week serves as a crucial reminder to review your defenses. The core advice remains timeless, but applying it requires understanding the current landscape of fraud. ...

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. ...

That Urgent Call for Gift Cards? It’s a Scam. If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding immediate payment with a gift card, stop. You are almost certainly talking to a scammer. This isn’t a new scheme, but it remains devastatingly effective, prompting consumer protection offices like that of District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb to issue renewed warnings to the public. ...