Phishing

The New Scam Playbook: What the FTC Just Warned Us About Every year, scammers refine their tactics, and keeping up can feel like a full-time job. That’s why the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent webinar, held during National Consumer Protection Week, is so valuable. It cut through the noise to highlight the specific fraud trends that are currently costing consumers the most money and peace of mind. Understanding these patterns isn’t about fostering fear; it’s about building practical awareness—your first and best line of defense. ...

How to Spot This Year’s Top Scams: Straight Talk from the FTC It’s easy to feel like scams are a distant threat—something that happens to other people. But fraudsters are constantly refining their tactics, and what worked to protect yourself last year might not be enough today. That’s why the insights from regulators are so valuable. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to break down the latest scam trends. Their goal wasn’t to scare people, but to arm them with specific, current knowledge. ...

What the FTC Wants You to Know About Today’s Scams National Consumer Protection Week recently featured an important webinar from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), spotlighting the most persistent and emerging fraud tactics of the moment. While scam reports continue at high levels, the conversation shifted from just awareness to practical defense. The patterns are clear: scammers are refining old tricks and exploiting new technologies to appear more convincing than ever. Here’s a breakdown of what they highlighted and, more importantly, what you can do about it. ...

What the Latest Scam Trends Mean for Your Wallet Scams are constantly evolving. Just as we learn to recognize one trick, criminals devise new ones, tailored to current events, new technologies, and our own habits. The goal is always the same: to trick us out of money or sensitive personal information. Staying ahead requires knowing what to look for. ...

Watch Out for This Convincing New Parking Ticket Text Scam If your phone buzzes with a text demanding immediate payment for a parking violation, your first instinct might be panic. Before you react, take a breath—it could be a scam. Law enforcement and consumer protection agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), are warning drivers about a sophisticated new wave of text-based fraud. Scammers are posing as city officials or law enforcement to steal money and personal information through fake parking ticket notices. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: Key Takeaways from the FTC’s Latest Scam Report Staying ahead of scammers is a constant challenge, as their tactics shift and evolve with technology and current events. To help the public stay protected, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week, shedding light on the most prevalent frauds circulating today. For anyone who banks, shops, or communicates online, understanding these trends is the first step toward building a strong defense. ...

What to Watch Out For: The FTC’s Latest Scam Alert and How to Protect Yourself Every year, scammers refine their tactics, and keeping up can feel like a full-time job. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a webinar during National Consumer Protection Week to shed light on the latest schemes catching people off guard. While the specific webinar details aren’t fully public, the FTC’s ongoing alerts and data paint a clear picture of the current threat landscape. By understanding these trends, you can build a stronger defense for your wallet and your personal information. ...

Staying Ahead of Scammers: Key Trends from the FTC’s Latest Briefing Every day, we’re inundated with texts, emails, and calls. Most are legitimate, but some are carefully crafted traps. Keeping up with how these traps are being set is the first step to avoiding them. Recently, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to shed light on the most current and pressing scam trends. The insights are a crucial update for anyone who uses a phone, email, or the internet—which is to say, all of us. ...

How to Recognize and Resist Phishing Scams You’ve probably heard the term “phishing” before. It’s that sneaky feeling when an email from your “bank” asks you to click a link to verify your account, or when a text message about a missed package delivery seems just a bit off. At its core, phishing is a type of online scam where criminals pretend to be a trusted person or organization to trick you into giving up sensitive information—like passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security details—or into installing malicious software on your device. ...

That ‘Unpaid Parking Ticket’ Text Could Be a Scam If you’ve received a sudden, urgent message demanding payment for a parking violation you don’t remember, pause before you click. Authorities in North Carolina and beyond are warning drivers about a sophisticated new scam that uses the fear of an unexpected fine to steal money and personal information. ...