Identity Theft

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: How to Spot Scams and Protect Your Money National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 started on March 2 and runs through March 6. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) uses this week each year to draw attention to the most common scams, ways to protect personal information, and steps to take if you’ve been a victim of fraud. If you haven’t had a chance to look through the FTC’s resources yet, you still have time to make use of them—and many of the materials remain available year-round. ...

Top Scams Targeting Americans in 2026, According to the FTC During National Consumer Protection Week in March 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar that laid out the most prevalent scams hitting consumers. The data comes from the agency’s Consumer Sentinel Network, which collects millions of fraud reports each year. While the webinar was held several months ago, the trends it highlighted remain active. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just trying to protect your savings, this summary of the top schemes and the steps you can take should help. ...

Gift Card Scams: What the Latest Alert from DC’s Attorney General Means for You Earlier this month, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a spike in gift card scams. While the alert is specific to the District, the tactics described are used nationwide. If you’ve ever received a call, email, or text demanding payment via a gift card, this warning is worth reading. ...

How Seniors Can Spot and Avoid Tech-Related Scams: A Consumer Alert Recent reports have highlighted a troubling trend: fraud cases targeting people aged 50 and older are on the rise, and scammers are increasingly using technology to reach their victims. A CBS News story published in late April 2026 underscored the urgency of this issue, noting that older Americans are being hit by a wave of high-tech schemes that can be difficult to recognize. This article explains what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do to protect yourself or a loved one. ...

Gift Card Scams Are on the Rise: How to Spot Them and What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted If you’ve ever received a call, email, or text demanding payment via a gift card, you’ve encountered one of the most persistent fraud tactics in use today. Gift card scams cost U.S. consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The schemes keep evolving, but the warning signs remain largely the same. ...

Latest Scam Trends from the FTC: Protect Yourself from These Common Frauds Every March, the Federal Trade Commission uses National Consumer Protection Week to release fresh data on the scams hitting Americans hardest. This year’s webinar, held during the first week of March 2026, offered a detailed look at what fraudsters are doing right now and how consumers can spot the patterns before losing money. The trends are not entirely new, but the methods are shifting in ways that make them harder to recognize. ...

Latest Scam Trends from the FTC’s 2026 National Consumer Protection Week Webinar Every year, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) gives the Federal Trade Commission a platform to update the public on the newest fraud tactics. This year’s webinar, held during the first week of March 2026, covered the scams that have been costing consumers the most money and offered clear steps to avoid becoming a victim. If you missed the live session, here is a summary of what was shared and how you can apply it. ...

Fraud Targeting Older Adults by Phone and Online Is Surging – What to Watch For Recent reports from AARP and CBS News underscore a troubling trend: technology‑enabled fraud against people age 50 and older is rising sharply. According to AARP, Floridians over 50 lost more than $258 million to scams in 2025 alone. Nationwide figures are likely higher, though exact numbers are still being collected. This consumer alert explains what’s happening, why older adults are a frequent target, and what you can do to reduce your risk. ...

Gift Card Scams Persist: What the D.C. Attorney General’s Recent Warning Means for You Gift cards are convenient presents for birthdays and holidays, but scammers have turned them into a preferred payment method for fraud. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert reminding residents that gift cards are for gifts, not for paying unexpected bills, taxes, or fees. This warning echoes similar advisories from consumer protection agencies across the country, and for good reason—gift card scams remain one of the most common and costly types of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). ...

Fraud Alert: Scams Targeting People Over 50 Are Rising Fast—Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’re over 50, a recent string of news alerts may have caught your attention—and for good reason. Fraud cases involving older adults are climbing sharply, and technology is increasingly the tool scammers use to reach their victims. In April 2026, CBS News issued a consumer alert highlighting this trend, while AARP reported staggering losses in Florida alone. Understanding what’s happening and how to protect yourself is more urgent than ever. ...