National Consumer Protection Week
03/04/2026
National Consumer Protection Week
This week is National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! Led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this week helps consumers understand their rights and avoid fraud. At The Savings Bank, we believe protecting your finances starts with education, awareness, and trusted local relationships.
Consumer protection isn’t just about reacting to scams. It is also about building habits that keep you secure all year long.
Know Your Rights
Consumers are protected by laws that promote fairness, transparency, and privacy in financial services. You have the right to:
- Clear and accurate information
- Protection from deceptive or unfair practices
- Dispute errors in your credit report
- Safeguard your personal data
If something doesn’t feel right, stop and ask questions. A reputable business will always take the time to explain everything clearly, and if they try to rush you, it’s likely a scam.
Watch for Red Flags
This brings us to one of the biggest red flags around: urgency. Fraudsters often create urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Be cautious if someone:
- Demands immediate payment
- Requests gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Asks for account or personal information
- Claims to be from a government agency and threatens legal action
If in doubt, pause, hang up, and verify. Contact the organization directly using a trusted phone number. Never call back at the number given in a text or from an unsolicited call. It could be a spoofed phone number and lead directly back to the scammer.
Strengthen Your Financial Safety
Simple steps can dramatically reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud:
- Use strong, unique passwords for every account
- Enable account alerts
- Set up multi-factor authentication wherever possible
- Monitor your statements regularly
- Review your credit report annually
We know you hear all of these things a lot, but these are truly the simplest ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming the victims of a scam.
As your community bank, we are just down the street! If you ever have concerns about a transaction or message, you can walk right into your nearest branch and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to take a look with you. We can also direct you to resources to report a scam, recover from a scam, and more!
Consumer protection is something we take seriously and is most effective when we work together. During National Consumer Protection week – and every week – we’re here to help you.
Sources and Resources:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection