Identity Theft

Your Guide to Staying Ahead of Scams During Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, fraudsters devise new schemes, but the core principles of protection remain steadfast. As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gears up for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) from March 1-7, 2026, their focus is on equipping you with timeless, practical defense strategies. While specific event details for 2026 are still unfolding, the FTC’s foundational advice provides a powerful toolkit you can use right now to safeguard your money and identity. ...

Beyond the Welcome Message: Practical Safety Lessons from NCPW 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is more than an annual reminder from the Federal Trade Commission—it’s a call to action. Each March, the FTC and its partners use this week to spotlight the most pressing threats facing consumers, distilling complex risks into practical advice. With the theme for NCPW 2026 now public, the focus is on empowering you to proactively guard your personal and financial information. Here’s what you need to know and, more importantly, what you can do. ...

What We Learned from the FTC’s Latest Scam Alert Webinar Last month, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a critical webinar. Its goal was straightforward: to arm the public with knowledge about the most current and convincing scams circulating today. A follow-up session also focused specifically on financial scams targeting military service members. These events highlight a continuous shift in how fraudsters operate, moving beyond tired email cons to exploit the very technologies we use daily. ...

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. ...