Scam Awareness

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: What the DC Attorney General’s Recent Alert Means for You If you’ve ever received an unexpected phone call demanding payment by gift card, you are not alone. Last December, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert specifically warning residents about the rise of gift card scams. The alert, published on the OAG website, highlights how scammers are targeting consumers with increasingly convincing stories—and how quickly money can disappear once a gift card code is shared. ...

How to Spot and Avoid ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams: A Consumer Alert In February 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a public warning about a growing type of fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is grim but descriptive: scammers “fatten up” victims with fake relationships and small, believable returns before slaughtering them financially. The warning from the AG’s office isn’t just for New Yorkers—these scams are spreading across the country. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. ...

Gift Card Scams Are on the Rise: How to Spot Them and Protect Your Money If you get a call demanding payment with a gift card, it’s a scam. That message comes not only from consumer advocates but recently from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office, which issued an alert warning residents about a surge in gift card fraud. While the alert targeted Washington, D.C., the scam itself is nationwide. Gift card scams are among the most frequently reported types of fraud to the Federal Trade Commission. Understanding how they work—and what to do if you’ve been targeted—can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Avoid Them Gift cards are convenient, but they’ve also become a favorite tool for scammers. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning residents about a spike in gift card fraud. While the alert is aimed at Washington, D.C., the tactics used are widespread, and the advice applies to consumers everywhere. ...

A Timely Warning: How to Protect Yourself from Gift Card Scams In mid-December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a direct alert to residents, warning of the persistent and costly threat of gift card scams. This official notice underscores a simple, alarming fact: if anyone demands payment via a gift card, it is almost certainly a scam. ...

Don’t Get Parked by a Scam: How to Spot Fake Parking Tickets If you drive in North Carolina, be on alert. The state’s Department of Justice has issued a warning about a new wave of parking violation scams designed to trick drivers into paying fines that don’t exist. These cons are becoming more sophisticated, often using official-looking communications to create a false sense of urgency. Understanding how they work is your first line of defense. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted Gift cards are convenient presents, but they have become a favorite tool for scammers. In December 2025, the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning residents about a rise in gift card fraud, echoing similar warnings from consumer protection agencies across the country. The message is straightforward: no legitimate company or government agency will ever demand payment with a gift card. Yet thousands of people fall for this trick every year, losing hundreds of dollars each time. ...

A New Parking Ticket Scam is Targeting Drivers: Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new, deceptive scam is circulating that preys on a common driver’s worry: the unexpected parking ticket. According to a recent consumer alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), fraudsters are sending out fake parking violation notices in an attempt to steal money and personal information. This scam isn’t confined to physical tickets on windshields; it’s primarily digital, leveraging texts and emails to create a false sense of urgency. ...

New Parking Ticket Scam Targets North Carolina Drivers: How to Spot the Fake If you get a text message or email about an unpaid parking ticket, don’t panic and don’t click. The North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) has issued a consumer alert warning drivers about a new scam designed to steal your money and personal information. ...

How to Spot, Stop, and Recover from Scams Scams aren’t what they used to be. The days of clumsy, misspelled emails from a “deposed prince” are fading, replaced by sophisticated schemes powered by artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation. Today, a scammer can clone a loved one’s voice in a phone call or create a convincing video of a CEO you trust. The stakes are higher, and the need for practical, everyday defense has never been more urgent. This guide cuts through the noise to give you concrete steps for recognizing modern fraud, preventing it, and knowing exactly what to do if you’re targeted. ...