How to spot online shopping scams and shop safely online

Online shopping is convenient, but scammers know that too. Fake websites, phony deals, and payment fraud are common, and they can cost you money and personal information. The Department of Veterans Affairs recently published guidance specifically for veterans and their families, but the advice applies to anyone who shops online. Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting tricked.

What happened

The VA News article “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” (January 28, 2026) outlines the most frequent tactics scammers use. These include:

  • Fake websites that mimic well-known retailers, often with slightly altered URLs or poor design.
  • Too-good-to-be-true deals – steep discounts on popular items, especially electronics, apparel, and gift cards.
  • Payment fraud where scammers ask for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit cards instead of standard credit card payments.
  • Phishing emails or texts that claim a package delivery failed or an account needs immediate action, leading to a fake login page.

The article is part of a broader VA effort to protect veterans from scams that target their benefits and personal data. A separate VA piece from December 2024, “Shopping for the real deal,” reinforces similar points. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) also warns about scammers posing as banks to trick people into depositing money into fake accounts.

Why it matters

Veterans are a frequent target because they have steady benefits and may be less familiar with newer online fraud techniques. But anyone can fall victim. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing more than $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, with online shopping scams being one of the top categories.

Beyond direct financial loss, scammers can steal enough personal information to commit identity theft, open new accounts in your name, or drain your bank account. Even a single successful scam can have lasting consequences for your credit and financial security.

The VA’s guidance is especially timely during high-shopping periods—holidays, sales events like Prime Day, or back-to-school season—when pressure to find deals makes people more vulnerable.

What you can do

Here are concrete steps to protect yourself, based on the VA’s recommendations and other consumer protection resources:

  1. Verify the website before you buy

    • Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and “https://” at the start of the URL. But note: a padlock alone isn’t a guarantee of legitimacy—scammers can get basic SSL certificates too.
    • Check the domain name carefully. “Amaz0n.com” or “BestBuyDeals.net” are red flags.
    • Search for reviews of the seller, but be wary of fake reviews. Use sites like the Better Business Bureau or the FTC’s consumer complaint database.
    • If the deal comes through a social media ad or email link, navigate to the retailer’s official site directly instead of clicking the link.

  2. Pay with a credit card when possible

    • Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. Under U.S. law, your maximum liability for unauthorized credit card charges is $50, and many issuers waive that.
    • Debit cards offer less protection; money is taken directly from your account, and recovering it can take weeks.
    • Payment services like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay add an extra layer of security by not sharing your card number with the seller.

  3. Be skeptical of urgent or unusual payment methods

    • Legitimate retailers rarely ask for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. If a seller insists on one of these, it’s almost certainly a scam.
    • Be cautious of “overpayment” refunds or sellers who claim you need to pay a fee to release a package.

  4. What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

    • Stop all communication with the seller.
    • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the transaction and request a chargeback if possible.
    • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
    • File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
    • If you gave away personal information, consider placing a fraud alert or freeze on your credit reports. The FTC offers a step-by-step guide at IdentityTheft.gov.

  5. Additional resources for veterans

    • The VA’s scams page (va.gov/opa/publications/scams.asp) has updated alerts.
    • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also provides a toll-free number (1-800-827-1000) to report fraud related to VA benefits.

Sources

  • VA News, “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” (Jan 28, 2026)
  • VA News, “Shopping for the real deal” (Dec 12, 2024)
  • FDIC, “Scammers and Fake Banks” (Aug 13, 2024)
  • Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice on Online Shopping Scams

The key is to slow down, verify before you pay, and know how to react if something goes wrong. A few extra minutes of checking can save you from a lot of trouble.