Online Safety

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Recognize and Avoid This Costly Fraud Imagine receiving a friendly, seemingly accidental message from a stranger. They’re charming, engaging, and over weeks or months, a trusting relationship blossoms. Then, they present an exclusive investment opportunity with guaranteed high returns. If this sounds familiar, you might be the target of a “pig butchering” scam. Recently, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a stark consumer alert warning residents about this sophisticated and devastating fraud. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

The Long Con: Understanding and Avoiding “Pig Butchering” Scams You meet someone online. The conversation starts casually—perhaps on a social media platform, a dating app, or even via a seemingly wrong-number text. They’re friendly, engaging, and over weeks or months, a bond of trust develops. Then, they mention a lucrative investment opportunity. You make a small initial deposit and watch your returns soar on a slick-looking website. Encouraged, you invest more. And then, when you try to withdraw your now-substantial “profits,” the platform stalls, the contact vanishes, and your money is gone. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Top Scams If you feel like you’re hearing about more scams lately, you’re not wrong. Fraud is evolving, and scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to steal money and personal information. To mark National Consumer Protection Week this past March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar focusing on the latest tactics used by criminals. Their message was clear: awareness is your first and most powerful line of defense. ...

The Long Con: How “Pig Butchering” Scams Fatten Victims for Slaughter You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message on social media, a dating app, or even WhatsApp. The conversation starts casually, grows into regular chats, and over weeks or months, a relationship or friendship develops. Then, the topic of a lucrative, “can’t-miss” investment opportunity arises. If this scenario sounds familiar, you may be the target of a devastating fraud known as “pig butchering.” ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scams The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a public webinar as part of National Consumer Protection Week, shining a light on the fraud tactics that are currently plaguing Americans. These events are designed to arm the public with knowledge, and the latest session underscored that while the core goals of scammers remain the same—to steal money and personal information—their methods are constantly adapting. For anyone who shops online, manages finances, or simply uses email or a phone, understanding these trends is the first step toward building a solid defense. ...

Don’t Get Locked Out or Scammed: How to Safeguard Your Next Ticket Purchase Scoring tickets to a much-anticipated concert, playoff game, or theater show is a thrill. Unfortunately, that excitement makes fans a prime target for fraudsters. Beyond the scramble for seats lies a parallel scramble by scammers looking to steal your money, your personal data, or both. Whether you’re buying directly from a primary vendor or on the resale market, a few key security practices can significantly lower your risk of disappointment and financial loss. ...

Your Tickets Are Safe Until They Aren’t: A Guide to Outsmarting Scammers For anyone who has ever refreshed a browser tab at 10 a.m. sharp, the thrill of securing event tickets is unmatched. That excitement, however, has a dark shadow: a growing wave of sophisticated scams determined to turn your anticipation into disappointment and financial loss. From fake listings for sold-out concerts to phishing attacks designed to hijack your accounts, fraudsters are relentlessly targeting fans. ...

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. ...

Your Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Spot Scams and Protect Yourself Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to cut through the noise and give people straightforward tools to fight back against fraud. While the official events for NCPW 2026 are still being planned, the core mission remains urgent: equipping you with knowledge is your first line of defense. ...

How to Spot, Avoid, and Recover from Today’s Scams We’ve all seen them: the urgent text from a “courier service,” the friendly message from a stranger on social media, or the too-good-to-be-true investment offer. Scams are a constant, evolving threat, costing victims billions each year and leaving behind stress and financial damage. The good news is that by understanding how they work, you can build a strong defense. ...