Recognize an FTC Impersonator

For many, the beginning of the year is often a time for taking stock and planning for the year to come. If you’re looking for ways to strengthen your financing footing in the new year, the FTC’s consumer.gov has tools that can help.

February ramping up can only mean one thing: National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is right around the corner. And this year, NCPW is March 1 – 7, 2026. Here are some ways to start planning:

Your phone rings and what the caller says next sends you into a panic. They claim there’s fraud on your credit card, someone hacked your bank account, you owe a tax debt, or your benefits will end today. Your adrenaline is pumping, and your mind races a hundred miles an hour. They sense this—and they say they can help. Should you trust them? No.