Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission and federal, state, and local agencies, consumer groups, and national advocacy organizations, will participate in the 22st annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). This year’s NCPW on March 1-7 is an opportunity to remind people of their rights as consumers, help them make well-informed decisions about money, and provide tips to avoid scams.

The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection protects Americans from scams, identity theft, and other unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices. The Bureau of Competition further supports consumers by promoting a competitive marketplace, which can deliver lower prices, enhance innovation, and increase quality and choice for consumers.

During NCPW, the FTC collaborates with its partners to share educational resources and tips on scams, identity theft, and other consumer protection issues.

Below is this year’s schedule of NCPW activities:

All Week Long:

Follow USAGov (@usagov) on Instagram for quick, shareable consumer tips all week long.

Watch “The Impostors: Stealing Money, Damaging Lives,” a two-part webinar hosted by AARP. You’ll learn about the most-reported imposter scams, how to recognize one, and what to do if you think you’ve encountered a scammer.

Thurs., March 5 at 11:00 a.m. ET: Webinar with AARP on Government Imposter Scams

Join AARP’s Slam the Scam webinar and hear from the FTC and our colleagues from some commonly impersonated government agencies: Medicare, the Internal Revenue Service, the Census Bureau, and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Thurs., March 5 at 11:00 a.m. ET: Twitter Chat on Avoiding Imposter Scams

Participate in our “Slam the Scam” Twitter chat with @FTC, @USAGov, @SocialSecurity and @IRSnews on avoiding imposter scams. Use #SlamtheScamChat and #NCPW2020 to follow the conversation.

Thurs., March 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Twitter Chat on Avoiding Imposter Scams (in Spanish)

Participate in our “Slam the Scam” Twitter chat in Spanish with @laFTC and @USAGovespanol on avoiding imposter scams. Use #OjoConLasEstafas and #NCPW2020 to follow the conversation.

Thurs., March 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET: Facebook Live with the Social Security Administration

FTC staff will join colleagues at the SSA on Facebook Live to discuss scams that involve people pretending to be SSA officials. Consumers will learn about these imposter scams and how to avoid them.

During NCPW, partners and hundreds of community groups across the country host events to promote general consumer education or highlight a specific consumer protection issue. For more information on NCPW, visit FTC.gov/NCPW and subscribe to Consumer Alerts.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.