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. ...
What to Know for Consumer Protection Week 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) returns this March, spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This annual event is dedicated to arming the public with knowledge and resources to fight fraud and make informed decisions. While the specific themes for NCPW 2026 will be detailed by the FTC closer to the date, the core mission remains constant: to highlight practical strategies for staying safe in an increasingly complex marketplace. ...
Your 2026 Guide to Smarter Consumer Protection and Fraud Prevention Every year in March, consumer advocates, government agencies, and communities come together for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). As we look ahead to 2026, this dedicated week serves as a crucial reminder and a valuable resource hub. It’s an ideal time to reset your personal safety protocols, learn about emerging scams, and understand the tools at your disposal. This article breaks down how you can use NCPW 2026 as a springboard for year-round vigilance. ...
What the FTC Wants You to Know for Consumer Protection Week 2026 National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is back for 2026, and the Federal Trade Commission is using the occasion to spotlight the latest strategies for staying safe. This annual event, which began in early March, is more than just a reminder—it’s a focused effort to arm people with the specific knowledge needed to navigate today’s fraud landscape. As scams grow more sophisticated, the FTC’s guidance for 2026 emphasizes a shift from basic awareness to proactive, informed defense. ...
Gift Card Scams Are Surging. Here’s How to Protect Your Money. If someone pressures you to pay them with a gift card, you are almost certainly talking to a scammer. This is the stark warning from consumer protection authorities, including District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who recently issued an alert to residents about the pervasive danger of these frauds. ...
A Recent Court Warning: What It Means for Your Wallet and How to Respond Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Courts issued a notable statewide consumer fraud alert. While the specific, granular details of every reported scam aren’t public, such alerts are never issued lightly. They signal a concerning rise in fraudulent activity that authorities are witnessing firsthand. For consumers, this isn’t just a news item; it’s a direct prompt to review your own defenses. These court warnings typically highlight schemes that are effective enough to trap a significant number of people, making them a valuable barometer of current threats. ...
A New Fraud Alert: What It Means for Your Wallet A recent statewide consumer fraud alert issued by the Philadelphia Courts serves as a stark reminder that scams are not only persistent but constantly evolving. While the specific details of every case mentioned in the alert aren’t publicly elaborated, the court’s decision to issue a broad warning indicates a concerning level of fraudulent activity targeting everyday people. This isn’t about a single isolated incident; it’s a signal of ongoing threats that require your attention. ...