Insights

FTC National Consumer Protection Week 2026: Strengthening Trust Across the Communications Ecosystem

Mar 02, 2026

Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to help consumers spot scams, safeguard their identities and recover from fraud.

But behind nearly every scam is something else: a communications channel.

A call that looks local. A text that appears to come from your bank. A one-time passcode intercepted through a compromised number. Even a connected device operating on a vulnerable network.

Fraudsters don’t just target people — they exploit the systems that connect us.

That’s why National Consumer Protection Week isn’t only about consumer awareness. It’s also about industry responsibility.

At Somos, we help service providers, financial institutions and enterprises strengthen trust across voice, messaging and IoT — because protecting consumers starts with securing the channels they depend on. Through solutions like RealAgent®, RealBrand®, RealNumber® DNO and SomosID®, we work across the ecosystem to verify identities, protect brands, strengthen compliance and secure connected devices — helping reduce fraud while reinforcing consumer confidence.

Verifying Identity Earlier — Including SIM/SWAP Risk: RealAgent^®

Fraudsters increasingly target phone numbers to intercept one-time passcodes and bypass authentication — often through SIM swap fraud, a leading cause of account takeover (ATO).

RealAgent® helps enterprises and financial institutions verify customer contact data in real time, including SIM/SWAP intelligence sourced directly from mobile network operators.

This enables organizations to detect potential SIM changes before fraud occurs and validate high-risk transactions prior to approval — helping prevent ATO, reduce exposure and strengthen customer trust.

Protecting Brand Trust: RealBrand^®

Scammers frequently copy logos, names and messaging tone to impersonate legitimate businesses.

RealBrand® enables organizations to present a consistent, verified identity across customer communications and helping customers quickly distinguish authentic outreach from fraudulent impersonation.

When customers can trust what they see, fraud loses power.

Strengthening Compliance and Blocking Illegal Calls: RealNumber^® DNO

Caller ID spoofing continues to undermine trust in voice communications.

With the FCC’s Do-Not-Originate (DNO) blocking requirements in place, providers are expected to prevent traffic from numbers that should never originate calls.

RealNumber® DNO delivers authoritative number intelligence that supports compliance, enables smarter call and text handling decisions and reduces opportunities for spoofing.

Proactive blocking strengthens both regulatory posture and consumer protection.

Securing the Expanding IoT Ecosystem: SomosID^®

Consumer protection now extends beyond phones and laptops.

From connected cars to smart home systems, each IoT device represents a potential entry point if identities aren’t secured.

SomosID® helps authenticate and validate device identities across ecosystems, providing visibility and strengthening trust in connected environments.

Because protecting consumers today means protecting every connected endpoint.

National Consumer Protection Week Is a Shared Responsibility

The FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week highlights the importance of education and awareness. But sustainable fraud reduction requires collaboration across the communications ecosystem.

Consumers must stay informed.

Enterprises must implement safeguards.

Service providers must close gaps that fraudsters exploit.

At Somos, we’re committed to strengthening trusted communications — helping protect brands while protecting consumers.

If advancing fraud mitigation across voice, messaging or IoT is part of your 2026 strategy, connect with us at connect@somos.com to learn how Somos solutions can support your goals.