National Consumer Protection Week is officially underway, and we’ve got everything you need to know. While the awareness week officially kicked off on Sunday, there’s still plenty of time to attend some amazing events and even host your own. Let’s see how!
What is National Consumer Protection Week?
The current U.S. administration named March 4–10 National Consumer Protection Week, but what exactly does that mean? Here’s what the White House had to say in an official statement:
“American consumers must be alert for a broad range of scams and schemes, including identity theft, cybersecurity breaches, and charity fraud, all of which can destroy credit, diminish lifelong savings, and erode financial security and confidence … National Consumer Protection Week is an opportunity for Americans to learn about their consumer rights so they can make better-informed financial decisions, avoid predatory practices, and protect their families from fraud and abuse. The Federal Government, in conjunction with a network of national organizations and State and local partners, provides information and resources that help Americans avoid, report, or recover from fraud and identity theft.”
How to participate
Attend official events
- Wednesday, March 7 @ 2 pm EST: FTC staff and the National Credit Union Administration will talk about identity theft, data breaches, and protecting yourself — and your money — with some consumer protection basics. To participate, follow FTC and NCUA.gov on Facebook.
- Wednesday, March 7 @ 7 pm EST: Spanish-speaking FTC staff will co-host a chat with GobiernoUSA.gov in Spanish, where they’ll discuss top scams, ways to avoid them, and the FTC’s fotonovela campaign to help Spanish speakers understand their consumer rights. To participate in Spanish, follow GobiernoUSA.gov on Facebook.
- Thursday, March 8 @ 11 am EST: FTC staff will join the Social Security Administration to talk about identity theft, scams that target older adults, and the FTC’s Pass It On campaign to help older adults talk about scams. To participate, follow FTC and SSA on Facebook.
Create your own events and content
The FTC isn’t just hoping you’ll attend their events— they’re also encouraging you to throw your own. Is that out of the realm of possibility? That’s okay — there are plenty of other ways your company can participate.
If your business has a blog, consider writing an article to help educate the public on the risks of consumer fraud. Or, use your company intranet to alert your employees to important information they can use to better protect themselves, your company, and your customers. Have a social media account? The FTC offers sample social images and text you can use to raise awareness.
Educate yourself and your employees on identity theft, cybercriminals, and privacy protection
No matter how you celebrate National Consumer Protection Week, the most important step you can take is to educate yourself and your employees. The following resources are an excellent start:
- Phishing for Dollars: How Identity Theft Is Leaving Businesses and Their Employees on the Hook
- The HR Guide to Employee Data Protection and Identity Theft Prevention
- By the Numbers: How Identity Theft Impacts Your Employees, Your Business, and the World
- Why Companies Should Care When Employees Have Their Identities Stolen
To stay up-to-date on all things related to identity theft, cybercrime, and fraud, be sure to follow our blog. Just enter your email address in the upper right-hand side of this page.
