3 Ways to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Lose Money

Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers who have grown more sophisticated. In the past year, the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Veterans Affairs have all issued warnings about the rising tide of online shopping fraud. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, released in May 2025, put the total losses from online shopping scams in the billions. The VA, meanwhile, has been reminding veterans and military families to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping.

The good news: most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can spot them before money changes hands. Here are three practical ways to protect yourself.

What happened

In January 2026, the VA published a straightforward alert titled “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping.” It urged consumers to be wary of fake websites, phishing emails, and deals that seem too good to be true. That same article pointed readers to the FTC and FBI for additional guidance. Around the same time, the FBI’s annual Internet Crime Report showed that non-delivery scams—where you pay for goods that never arrive—remain one of the costliest categories for consumers.

These aren’t isolated warnings. They reflect a broader trend: online shopping fraud is becoming more organized, with scammers cloning legitimate retailer sites and using social media ads to lure victims.

Why it matters

Almost everyone shops online, and a single mistake can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Beyond the financial hit, victims often spend hours disputing charges, canceling cards, and worrying about identity theft. Scammers also target vulnerable groups—military families, older adults, and people who aren’t as familiar with digital security.

The scale is hard to ignore. The FBI reports that in 2024, Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to internet crimes, with shopping fraud making up a significant share. Many of these cases could have been prevented with a few simple checks before hitting “buy.”

What readers can do

Here are three steps that cover the most common scam scenarios.

1. Check the URL and site details before you enter payment info.
Fake websites often use addresses that look legitimate at a glance—like “amaz0n-deals.com” or “bestbuy-discount.store.” Before you type in your credit card number, look at the URL bar. Does the site use HTTPS (the padlock icon)? Does it have a contact page with a real phone number and physical address? If you’re unsure, open a new tab and go directly to the official retailer’s website rather than clicking a link from an email or ad.

2. Be skeptical of deals that are way below market price.
Scammers rely on the psychology of getting a bargain. If a new iPhone is listed for $200, or a designer handbag is marked down 90 percent, stop and ask why. Legitimate sales have limits; if the price is unrealistically low, it’s almost certainly a scam. Check the same product on a known retailer’s site to see the typical price. If the difference is huge, walk away.

3. Use a credit card or a payment service that offers buyer protection.
Avoid wiring money, using gift cards, or paying with cryptocurrency for online purchases. Those methods are nearly impossible to reverse. Credit cards generally allow you to dispute charges, and services like PayPal have built-in buyer protection. If a seller insists on an unusual payment method, that’s a red flag.

If you do fall victim, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to stop the payment. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov). You can also file a report with your local police—this can help when disputing charges or recovering funds.

Sources

These official pages offer more detail and are updated regularly as new scam tactics emerge. Bookmark one or two of them, and share what you learn with friends and family—it’s one of the best ways to keep the whole community safer.