CNext Blog

Five Scams to Watch in 2026: What to Look For—and How to Protect Yourself

Scams aren’t new - but the scammers are getting smarter.

These days, scammers can send messages that look real, create fake websites, and even make phone calls that sound like someone you know. It’s easier than ever to get caught off guard.

The good news is that most scams follow the same patterns. Once you know what to look for, you’ll be much harder to [...]

Why .bank Matters

Have you ever received a call from someone who is claiming to be someone else? This is a growing tactic used by scammers attempting to obtain your information.

Let’s say you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be [...]

What Happens When Scammers Use Shame to Steal Your Money?

Let’s be honest — nobody wants to talk about this. As parents, grandparents, and caregivers, we’d much rather talk about school, sports, weekend plans, or anything other than uncomfortable topics. But here’s the tough truth:

Scammers hope we stay quiet. They count on kids — and even adults — feeling too embarrassed to tell anyone when something [...]

"Approved Payment" or Approved Fraud?

A Scam That’s Easy to Miss—Until It’s Too Late

Everyone knows that selling something isn’t about putting it in the front yard anymore. These days, the Internet Marketplace is full of buyers looking for their next great find. Sellers are eager to show off their stuff and make a little extra cash. But in the middle of all this honest buying and selling, [...]

Don't Get Played: How to Outsmart Check Fraudsters

Since EMV chip technology and real-time alerts have made it harder for criminals to swipe your debit card info, the bad guys have switched gears—now they’re targeting checks. With mobile deposit apps making it easy to deposit checks without stepping foot in a bank, fraudsters have found a new playground where they can slip under the radar. If you’re not careful, you could [...]

Don't Get Played: Outsmart Government Imposter Scammers

Scammers are still out here playing games—and too many people are falling for it.

According to the 2024 Internet Crime Report, the number of victims who reported government imposter scams to the FBI jumped more than 50 percent from 2022 to 2024. [...]