Scam Pulse: Current scams and warning signs

Each month, we explain three scams covered in recent government reports and alerts: how to recognize them, what to do before paying, and where to get help if you already responded.

Latest issue · October 2026

Medicare enrollment traps, fake voter notices, and phone-deactivation threats

An enrollment search, a voter-registration message, or a threatening phone call can lead to someone asking for your identity details. Learn how these three approaches work and where to check the request before responding.

Read the briefingLast fact-checked October 23, 2026

01
Enrollment searches and phone inquiriesMedicare enrollment traps: Check where your search takes you
02
Texts and emails about registrationFake voter notices: Check your status through your state
03
Calls posing as the FTC or policePhone-deactivation threats: A staged check can lead back to scammers

All Scam Pulse editions

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October 2026

Medicare enrollment traps, fake voter notices, and phone-deactivation threats

Published October 23, 2026Fact-checked October 23, 2026Read the briefing

September 2026

Student-loan rescue, disaster aid, and fake bank alerts

Before you pay for repayment help, respond to a disaster appeal, or move money after a security alert, verify who is asking.

Published September 16, 2026Fact-checked September 16, 2026Read the briefing

August 2026

Shopping ads, investment pitches, and tax-relief scams

The three scams to watch in August 2026 are fake social-media shopping ads, investment-training and trading-coach scams, and deceptive tax-relief or IRS-impersonation pitches. In 2025 FTC reports, texts were the most frequently reported contact method, while social-media scams produced the highest aggregate reported losses: $2.1 billion.

Published August 14, 2026Fact-checked August 14, 2026Read the briefing

How we choose and source each issue

Why these scams

We choose topics from recent public guidance, weighing the potential harm and what readers can do to avoid it.

What the numbers count

Reported losses and contact methods describe reports submitted to agencies. They are not presented as complete estimates of all fraud.

How to check a request

End the call or stop replying. Contact the organization using a number or website you found yourself to check whether the request is real.

Report fraud to the FTC

Keep messages, screenshots, receipts, and payment records. Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.