How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Before You’re Targeted If you’re active on social media, dating apps, or even professional networking sites, you should be aware of a sophisticated and devastating fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is as brutal as the crime: scammers “fatten up” a victim with trust and affection before “butchering” them for their money. ...
How to Protect Yourself from Scams: A National Consumer Protection Week Guide As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 approaches, it’s a perfect time to sharpen your defenses against fraud. This annual initiative, led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), focuses on educating and empowering consumers. While official 2026 alerts are still forthcoming, the consistent trends from previous years offer a clear roadmap for the scams you’re most likely to encounter and how to stop them. ...
Your Playbook for National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, as March rolls around, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) kicks off National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). This year, it begins on March 2, 2026. It’s a nationwide campaign designed to arm you with the knowledge you need to spot, avoid, and report scams. While it’s a government initiative, the real focus is on you—your wallet, your privacy, and your peace of mind. ...
What to Watch For: Scam Prevention for National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every March, a coordinated national effort turns the spotlight on consumer safety. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is a time when government agencies, advocacy groups, and communities unite to share crucial information on avoiding fraud. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again leading the charge, offering timely advice to help you guard against an evolving landscape of scams. This year, their warnings are particularly focused on sophisticated impersonation schemes, a persistent and costly threat. ...
Don’t Get “Fattened Up”: How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Have you ever received a friendly, unexpected message from a stranger online? Perhaps they liked your social media profile or matched with you on a dating app. The conversation starts normally, builds over weeks or even months, and they earn your trust. Then, subtly, the topic turns to money—a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity or a sudden crisis requiring your financial help. ...
What the FTC Wants You to Know During Consumer Protection Week For one week each year, the spotlight turns squarely to your wallet. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission, isn’t just a government campaign—it’s a concentrated effort to arm you with the knowledge to fight back against fraud. With scams constantly evolving, the advice for 2026 centers on a critical principle: slowing down and verifying. The most powerful tool you have isn’t a piece of software; it’s your own skepticism. ...
Beyond the Hype: What the FTC’s Latest Scam Alert Means for You Every year, National Consumer Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder to check our digital defenses. This past March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar that cut through the noise, highlighting not just the volume of scams, but their evolving nature. The central message was clear: scammers are refining their tactics, and our awareness must evolve just as quickly. ...
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. ...
Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than a calendar event; it’s an annual, coordinated campaign led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and partners to arm you with the knowledge you need to avoid fraud and manage your money safely. While the official week for 2026 is typically held in early March, the lessons and habits it promotes are vital year-round. This year’s focus continues a critical trend: helping consumers spot, stop, and report scams that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. ...
The Latest Scam Tactics and How to Dodge Them: Key Lessons from the FTC Every year, scammers refine their techniques, finding new ways to exploit trust and urgency. During a recent National Consumer Protection Week webinar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shed light on the evolving fraud landscape, emphasizing that awareness is the first line of defense. While the specific examples may change, the underlying principles of these cons remain consistent. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to watch for and how to protect yourself. ...