Identity Theft

The Latest Scams Are Getting Sneakier. Here’s How to Spot Them. During a recent webinar for National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shed light on the evolving landscape of consumer fraud. The clear takeaway? Scammers are refining their tactics, blending old tricks with new technology to catch people off guard. While the specific details of every scheme shift, the underlying principles of protection remain grounded in vigilance and skepticism. This breakdown translates the FTC’s warnings into practical steps you can use to guard your money and personal information. ...

What a Consumer Survey Reveals About Your Bank’s Fraud Protection A recent national survey conducted by Morning Consult for the American Bankers Association offers a revealing snapshot of consumer sentiment on banking safety. The core finding is clear: a strong majority of U.S. consumers report being satisfied with their bank and, notably, applaud their bank’s fraud protection efforts. This high level of reported trust is encouraging, but it also presents a critical moment for reflection. Trust in your bank’s systems is a good foundation, but it should be the starting point for your security, not the finish line. Understanding what this widespread satisfaction means—and where the potential gaps lie—is key to building a truly resilient personal defense against financial fraud. ...

How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Before They Cost You A new warning from the New York State Attorney General’s office highlights a disturbing and financially devastating type of fraud on the rise. Known as “Pig Butchering,” these scams have nothing to do with livestock and everything to do with preying on people’s trust and isolating them from their own money. The name, while unusual, is brutally descriptive: scammers “fatten up” a victim with attention and false promises before “butchering” them for every dollar they can get. ...

What Your Bank’s Fraud Protection Says About Your Satisfaction A new survey confirms something many bank customers feel intuitively: our confidence in a financial institution is deeply tied to how well it protects our money. The Fall 2025 Morning Consult survey, conducted for the American Bankers Association (ABA), highlights that consumer satisfaction isn’t just about interest rates or app design—it’s increasingly built on effective fraud prevention. ...

Your Practical Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to cut through the noise and give people straightforward tools to defend themselves. The theme for NCPW 2026 continues this mission, offering updated advice and resources tailored to the current landscape of scams, fraud, and privacy threats. For anyone who shops online, manages finances, or simply wants to keep their personal information secure, this week serves as a crucial checkpoint. ...

Your Guide to Staying Ahead of Scams for Consumer Protection Week 2026 Every March, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) serves as a crucial reminder to review our financial and digital defenses. As we look ahead to NCPW 2026, the landscape of fraud is not slowing down. Scammers continuously refine their tactics, making ongoing vigilance more important than ever. This week isn’t just about awareness; it’s an opportunity to build and reinforce the practical habits that protect your money, identity, and privacy all year long. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scams During this year’s National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shine a light on the most prevalent and damaging scams currently targeting the public. While the specific tactics evolve, the core principles of fraud remain constant: scammers exploit urgency, fear, and trust to separate people from their money and personal information. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Recognize It and Protect Your Finances You get a friendly, unexpected message. Maybe it’s on social media, a dating app, or even a wrong-number text. The conversation starts casually, builds trust over weeks or months, and eventually turns to talk of a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. This slow, deliberate process is the hallmark of a “pig butchering” scam, and it’s costing victims devastating sums. Recently, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a stark consumer alert warning residents about this specific threat. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

The Scams Circulating Now and How to Spot Them Every year, fraudsters refine their tactics, and keeping up can feel like a full-time job. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a timely webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to shed light on the latest schemes targeting consumers. Their clear message was that while the packaging of scams changes, the core tricks remain the same—they just leverage new technologies and current events to seem more convincing. ...

A Practical Guide from the FTC: Protecting Yourself During Consumer Protection Week Every March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) organizes National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). While the 2026 campaign will soon kick off with new resources and events, the core advice remains timeless. This week serves as a crucial reminder to review our habits and shields in an environment where scams are increasingly sophisticated. ...