Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Buy

Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks, a payment, and a package arrives days later. But that convenience also creates openings for scammers. Fake websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals are more common than many shoppers realize. According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, online shopping fraud continues to climb, especially after holiday seasons and major sales events. The good news is that most scams can be avoided with a few simple checks before you hit “buy.”

What Happened

In January 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a reminder urging shoppers—especially veterans and military families—to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. The VA News article outlines common tactics used by fraudsters and offers straightforward precautions. While aimed at a specific audience, the guidance applies to anyone who shops online. The VA is not alone in flagging this risk: the Federal Trade Commission regularly warns about fake stores, phishing, and impersonation scams that spike during high-spending periods.

Why It Matters

Shopping scams don’t just cost you money. They can also lead to identity theft, compromised credit cards, and months of hassle recovering stolen funds or personal data. Older scams relied on obviously broken websites, but today’s fraudsters have become more sophisticated. They create convincing storefronts, use stolen logos, and even fabricate customer reviews. The financial loss is real, but the erosion of trust in online commerce hurts everyone. Understanding how these scams work—and how to spot them—keeps your personal information and your wallet safer.

What Readers Can Do

1. Recognize the common scam types

Most online shopping scams fall into a few categories:

  • Fake websites that mimic real stores or brands. The domain name may look close but has a slight misspelling or a different suffix (.net instead of .com).
  • Phishing emails that appear to come from a retailer or delivery service, asking you to click a link or provide payment details.
  • Social media ads promoting steep discounts on popular items. These often lead to counterfeit sites or never deliver the product.
  • Too-good-to-be-true deals – an 80% discount on a high-end gadget is almost always a trap.

2. Look for red flags

Before you enter payment information, check these signs:

  • Design quality: Poor grammar, blurry images, or inconsistent branding are warning signs.
  • Payment methods: If the site only accepts wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, stop. Legitimate merchants offer credit cards and PayPal.
  • Contact info: A real business should have a physical address and a working phone number or email. If it’s missing or the “contact” page returns an error, be suspicious.
  • Unrealistic discounts: A brand-new video game console for $50 is not a deal—it’s a scam.

3. Verify the seller

A few minutes of research can save you a lot of trouble.

  • Search the company name plus “scam” or “review” to see what other shoppers report.
  • Check for a secure connection: the URL should start with https:// and show a padlock icon in the address bar. That alone isn’t a guarantee, but its absence is a dealbreaker.
  • Look up the business on the Better Business Bureau website or a trusted review platform.
  • Be wary of shopper reviews on the site itself—they can be faked. Look for independent reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot or Reddit.

4. Use safe payment practices

Your payment method is your best protection.

  • Credit cards usually offer fraud protection and let you dispute charges.
  • Payment services like PayPal also provide buyer protection in many cases.
  • Avoid debit cards for online purchases—if your bank account is drained, it’s harder to recover funds quickly.
  • Never wire money or pay with a gift card. Legitimate sellers don’t ask for these.

5. Know what to do if you are scammed

If you realize you’ve been tricked, act fast.

  • Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the transaction and request a chargeback.
  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Report the scam website to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  • Monitor your accounts for any unauthorized charges or suspicious activity in the following weeks.
  • Change your passwords if you created an account on the fraudulent site.

Sources

  • “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” – VA News (.gov), January 28, 2026
  • “FBI Releases Annual Internet Crime Report” – FBI (.gov), May 13, 2025
  • “Spot Health Insurance Scams” – Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice, December 2, 2025
  • “Navigating holiday shopping risks when shopping online” – VA News (.gov), November 28, 2024

Scammers adapt, but so can you. By staying alert and following these steps, you can shop online with less worry. The best defense is a moment of pause before you click “pay now.” If the deal looks too perfect, it probably is.