Identity Theft

A Practical Guide to Navigating Today’s Scam Landscape It can feel like a new scam emerges daily. The phone rings with a familiar voice—perhaps even a family member’s—pleading for money, only to be a convincing AI clone. An urgent text about a package delivery or a bank alert appears, designed to trigger a panicked click. These aren’t hypotheticals; they’re today’s reality. With identity theft reports surging, particularly around high-stakes times like tax season, a basic understanding of digital threats is no longer optional—it’s essential self-defense. ...

Don’t Get Towed by a Text: How to Spot the Latest Parking Ticket Scam If you’re a driver in North Carolina, be careful the next time a message about an unpaid parking fine pops up on your phone. State officials have issued a new consumer alert warning of a sophisticated scam that uses fake parking violation notices to steal your money and personal information. Understanding how this fraud works is your best defense. ...

Don’t Fall for It: A Real-World Guide to Fighting Fraud Scammers are getting smarter. New data reveals a troubling 50% spike in identity theft over the last two tax seasons, a period when our guard might be down and sensitive information is in motion. Meanwhile, criminals are now using AI to clone voices for fake emergency calls and create convincing deepfake videos, making old tricks dangerously new. It’s no longer enough to just delete suspicious emails; we need a proactive plan. ...

How to Spot a Fake Parking Ticket Before You Pay Getting a parking ticket is frustrating enough. Now, imagine paying a fine for a violation that never happened. According to a recent alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice, that’s exactly what scammers are hoping you’ll do. A new wave of parking violation scams is targeting drivers, using deceptive texts and emails to steal money and personal information. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. ...

The Scam That Almost Got Me: A Practical Guide to Modern Fraud It started with a text message. A simple alert about a suspicious charge on my credit card, with a link to “verify my account.” For a split second, my heart dropped. I’d just made a few online purchases. Was this real? Then I noticed the sender: a strange email address disguised as my bank’s name. I didn’t click. It was a phishing attempt, one of millions sent daily. But it felt chillingly personal. ...

Your Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 It’s that time of year again: National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is on the horizon for 2026. This isn’t just another calendar note from the government. For a week each year, spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alongside a coalition of partners, the spotlight shines directly on empowering you with the knowledge to fight fraud, secure your identity, and navigate the digital marketplace safely. ...

Don’t Get Played: A Realistic Guide to Spotting, Stopping, and Recovering from Scams It feels like a weekly occurrence: a new text about a missed delivery, an urgent call from “your bank,” or a too-good-to-be-true investment offer. Fraud isn’t just annoying; it’s costly and emotionally draining. Recent reports, including a series from Investopedia, highlight a sobering reality: identity theft spiked by 50% over the last two tax seasons, and scammers are now wielding artificial intelligence to create frighteningly convincing fakes. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams Every year, scammers refine their tactics, finding new ways to exploit trust and urgency. Keeping up can feel like a full-time job. Fortunately, regulators are on the front lines, and their insights are our best defense. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a key webinar as part of National Consumer Protection Week, distilling the latest patterns they’re seeing in fraud. The message is clear: while the themes of fear, greed, and opportunity are timeless, the delivery methods are constantly evolving. ...

What National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Means for Your Wallet National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is back, and for 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on the scams that are increasingly finding their way into our daily lives. This annual event, which takes place in early March, is more than just a government initiative—it’s a crucial reminder to pause and review the habits that keep our personal information and finances secure. While the specific themes for NCPW 2026 are still being finalized, the FTC’s consistent focus points to the ongoing threats that demand our attention right now. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams In early March, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to brief the public on the most pressing fraud trends of the moment. The goal was straightforward: to arm everyday people with the knowledge to recognize and stop scams before they cause harm. As our financial and social lives become increasingly digital, the tactics used by scammers evolve in parallel, making this kind of timely advice more critical than ever. ...