Announcing National Slam the Scam Day
A Joint Effort to Protect Consumers from Scams
On March 5, 2026, federal, state, and local government, non-profit organizations, and private companies are joining forces to help protect consumers from scams. Over the years, scams have grown and evolved in scale and sophistication.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $12.5 billion to scams in 2024- a 25% increase from 2023. Consumers lost more than $5.7 billion to investment scams and almost $2.95 billion to imposter scams.
We are all vulnerable. Scammers target individuals, businesses, and even government agencies to attempt to steal money or personal information. They pretend to be from a well-known business or organization. Scammers state there’s some sort of problem or offer a prize, such as a benefit increase. They pressure you to act quickly. Most alarming, scammers tell you to pay using currency that is hard to trace, such as cryptocurrency, gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer, cash, or even gold bars. They might even say they are helping to keep your money safe.
Long-Term Care Consumers, including residents of long-term care facilities, are particularly vulnerable to scams and financial exploitation due to factors such as social isolation, cognitive impairment, physical limitations, and reliance on others for daily care and financial management. Scammers may target them through phone calls, mail, online schemes, or even in-person deception, often posing as government officials, charities, or trusted service providers. In some cases, exploitation can also involve individuals in positions of trust who misuse access to residents’ personal information or finances. Since many residents depend on fixed incomes or life savings to cover long-term care costs, financial losses can be especially devastating. Increased awareness, staff training, family involvement, and strong oversight are critical to helping protect nursing home residents from fraud and abuse.
Follow #SlamTheScam posts on social media and share them with your loved ones and your community. Stay skeptical about unexpected contact from businesses or organizations. Hang up or delete suspicious messages. Do not click on links. Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov). Visit ftc.gov/scams to stay up to date on the latest scams and the tactics scammers use.
Consumer Voice Resources
Consumer Fact Sheet: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation
Protecting Your Loved One: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation
