February 2026

If you’re thinking about taking on gig work — driving, fixing, delivering, or tasking — you’re probably thinking about pay. But what if a company promises they’ll pay you a certain amount and then ends up paying you less? The FTC alleges that’s what happened to drivers of Walmart’s delivery service, Spark Driver.

It’s almost time for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026. Are you ready? We hope you’ll join in celebrating the Week! Find events — like a webinar on emerging scams, a roundtable discussion on the top scams affecting older adults, or one of the in-person events happening around the country, along with everything else — at ftc.gov/ncpw.

Unemployment benefits can be a life saver if you’re between jobs. But what happens if a scammer misuses your personal information, like your Social Security number (SSN) to file a fraudulent unemployment claim? That’s identity theft.

If a debt collector calls, do you know what to do? You have rights. Debt collectors can’t harass, lie, or treat you unfairly — even if you owe the debt. Before you pay, confirm a debt is actually yours — not someone else’s or a scam to get your money. Consider talking to the collector at least once to find out, even if you don’t think you owe the money. To help you avoid a scam, here’s what to do next.

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: