How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams

Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens the door to fraud. Every year, scams that target online shoppers become more sophisticated, and government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs regularly update their warnings. In late January 2026, VA News published a reminder about common online shopping scams and how to avoid them—advice that applies to anyone who buys goods or services over the internet.

If you shop online frequently, it pays to know what to look for. Below is a breakdown of the most common tactics, how to check whether a seller is legitimate, and what to do if something goes wrong.

What Happened: The Scams That Keep Circulating

According to VA guidance, scammers often use a handful of reliable methods to separate consumers from their money:

  • Fake websites that impersonate well-known retailers. The URL may be off by one letter, or the site may use the same logo and layout as the real store.
  • Phishing emails that appear to come from a retailer you trust. They might ask you to “confirm your order” or “update payment details,” and the link leads to a fraudulent page.
  • Too-good-to-be-true deals—items priced far below market value are almost always a red flag. Scammers use low prices to lure people into paying quickly, often with no way to get the money back.
  • Social media ads that lead to unknown e-commerce sites. These ads can be highly targeted and look legitimate, but the product never arrives.

These aren’t new tactics, but they remain effective because they exploit our habit of clicking first and checking later.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams don’t just cost you money—they can lead to identity theft and compromised financial accounts. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that consumers lose billions of dollars each year to e-commerce fraud. Veterans and seniors are often specifically targeted because they may receive benefits or have steady retirement income. However, anyone can be caught off guard, especially during holiday seasons or sales events when people are more likely to act quickly.

The good news is that many scams are avoidable if you develop a few simple habits.

What Readers Can Do: Practical Steps to Protect Yourself

1. Verify the seller and the website

Before you enter any personal or payment information, take a few seconds to check the URL. Look for misspellings, unusual domain endings (like .shop or .xyz on a site that should be .com), or a missing “s” in “https://.” While HTTPS alone isn’t a guarantee of legitimacy, its absence is a strong warning.

If you’re on a site you don’t know, search for the retailer’s name along with words like “scam” or “review.” See what other shoppers have reported. Trust seals (like Norton Secured or McAfee Secure) are sometimes forged, so don’t rely on them alone.

2. Use safe payment methods

Credit cards offer the best consumer protection in the event of fraud—you can dispute unauthorized charges. Debit cards have fewer protections, and bank transfers or wire payments are almost impossible to reverse. Avoid any seller that insists on wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Those are nearly always scam indicators.

3. Be skeptical of unsolicited emails

If you get an email about a package delivery, order confirmation, or account issue that you weren’t expecting, do not click any links. Go directly to the retailer’s website by typing the address into your browser. If the message claims to be from a company you do business with, log in to your account on the official site to check for any real notifications.

4. Watch for pressure tactics

Scammers often create a false sense of urgency: “Limited stock – order now!” or “Offer expires in one hour.” Legitimate sales may use similar language, but a reputable retailer won’t force you to make a snap decision. If you feel rushed, that’s a good reason to pause and double-check.

5. Use a virtual card number or payment service

Some credit card issuers allow you to generate a temporary card number for a single transaction. Services like PayPal or Apple Pay add a layer of protection because the merchant never sees your actual card details.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

Even with precautions, mistakes happen. If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly.

  • Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report the transaction and request a chargeback or stop payment.
  • Change your passwords for any accounts you may have exposed.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track scam trends and may help law enforcement.
  • If you are a veteran and believe your VA benefits or personal information were compromised, you can contact the VA’s fraud hotline or visit va.gov/fraud.

Stay Vigilant, Not Afraid

Shopping online remains safe for the vast majority of transactions. The key is to stay alert and treat any unsolicited offer with a healthy dose of skepticism. By verifying sellers, using secure payment methods, and knowing where to report problems, you can reduce your risk significantly.

The VA’s guidance—and similar warnings from other consumer protection agencies—are worth revisiting from time to time, because scams evolve. But the basics don’t change: if something looks off, trust your gut and walk away.

Sources

  • VA News, “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping,” January 28, 2026.
  • VA News, “Shopping for the real deal,” December 10, 2024.
  • VA News, “Navigating holiday shopping risks when shopping online,” November 28, 2024.
  • VA News, “Protect your benefits from scammers during the holiday season,” December 1, 2023.
  • VA News, “Online safety measures for the Veteran community,” December 18, 2024.
  • VA News, “Protecting your benefits data from fraudsters,” January 30, 2025.
  • Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov.