Scam Alerts

National Consumer Protection Week is Coming: Here’s How to Use It to Fortify Your Finances Every year, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) offers a timely, government-backed reminder to review our defenses against fraud. With NCPW 2026 on the horizon, it’s the perfect moment to move beyond awareness and into action. This isn’t about fear; it’s about building simple, effective habits that protect your money and your identity year-round. Let’s explore how you can use this annual event as a catalyst for your personal security. ...

Your Guide to National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Straight Advice from the FTC March marks the arrival of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), an annual event led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alongside other federal and state agencies. For 2026, the campaign’s core message remains vital: equipping you with the knowledge to spot scams, protect your data, and make informed decisions. It’s a dedicated time to pause and review your personal safety habits in a digital world that grows more complex each year. ...

Staying Ahead of Scammers: Practical Advice from the FTC for 2026 Every March, National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) rolls around, serving as a crucial reminder to check the locks on our digital lives. For 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is once again leading the charge, offering clear guidance to help everyday people spot, avoid, and report the scams that continue to evolve. This isn’t about fear; it’s about building practical habits that make you a harder target. ...

A Persistent Threat: Understanding and Avoiding Gift Card Scams In our digital age, gift cards have become a staple of convenience for gifting and personal spending. Unfortunately, their very features—ease of purchase and use—have also made them a top tool for fraudsters. A recent consumer alert issued by the District of Columbia Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, underscores a troubling and ongoing trend: gift card scams remain a highly effective way for criminals to steal money quickly and irreversibly. This warning serves as a critical reminder for all consumers, regardless of location, to sharpen their awareness. ...

Gift Card Scams: How to Recognize the Red Flags and Protect Your Money If someone calls demanding you pay them with a gift card, it’s a scam. This simple rule, emphasized by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb in a recent consumer alert, is a critical defense against one of the most common and devastating frauds today. Gift card scams drain millions from consumers annually by leveraging fear, urgency, and the digital equivalent of untraceable cash. Understanding how these scams operate is the first step in ensuring you don’t become the next victim. ...

A Recent Official Warning Highlights a Simple, Costly Fraud If someone calls, texts, or emails you demanding payment with a gift card, it is a scam. Full stop. This isn’t just common sense advice; it’s the core message from an official consumer alert. In December 2025, Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a specific warning to District of Columbia residents about the pervasive threat of gift card scams. These schemes continue to drain millions from consumers nationwide by exploiting trust and urgency. ...

Don’t Get Tricked into Paying with a Gift Card: What That Urgent Call Really Means It starts with a call, a text, or an email. The person on the other end sounds official, maybe even threatening. They say you owe money to the IRS, that a family member is in jail, or that your computer has a virus only they can fix. Their solution is always the same: go buy a gift card and read them the numbers. It’s urgent, they insist. It must be done now. ...

Don’t Get Fooled: Why Officials Are Issuing Urgent Warnings About Gift Card Scams If someone calls, texts, or emails you with an urgent demand to pay them with gift cards, it’s not a legitimate request. It’s a scam. ...

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. ...

Spotting Gift Card Scams: How to Protect Your Money With holiday shopping in full swing and digital payments more common than ever, gift cards have become a convenient go-to. Unfortunately, they’ve also become a favorite tool for scammers. In a recent consumer alert issued in December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb warned residents about a persistent wave of gift card scams. The message is a crucial reminder for everyone: no legitimate organization will ever demand payment via gift cards. ...