Online Shoppers Are Ignoring Scam Warnings—Here’s How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

A recent report from KnowBe4, a security awareness training firm, points to a troubling trend: online shoppers are increasingly disregarding warnings about scams and fraudulent websites. The report, titled “Online Shoppers Increasingly Ignore Scam Warning Signs,” was published in late June 2026 and comes just as back‑to‑school and holiday shopping seasons are about to surge. With more people buying online, the risks are real—and so is the tendency to overlook them.

What the KnowBe4 Report Found

The report examined how shoppers behave when confronted with common scam indicators—such as suspicious URLs, requests for unusual payment methods, or unrealistic discounts. It found that many users ignore browser warnings, proceed to click on phishing links, and fail to verify seller legitimacy. The report’s authors attribute this behavior partly to the speed of modern shopping: when a deal seems too good to pass up, people rush to click before thinking.

While the exact statistics in the report remain behind KnowBe4’s full publication, the key insight is clear: awareness alone isn’t enough. Even when shoppers have been educated about scams, they still fall prey under certain conditions.

Why Shoppers Keep Falling for Scams

Several psychological factors explain why warnings don’t stick.

First, overconfidence plays a role. Many shoppers believe they can spot a scam easily, so they let their guard down. Second, online shopping environments are designed to create urgency. Countdown timers, “only 3 left” messages, and flash sales push people to act quickly, bypassing careful checks. Third, social proof—fake reviews or “thousands sold” badges—gives a fraudulent site an appearance of legitimacy.

These triggers work together to override caution. The result is that even shoppers who know the basics of scam prevention will still enter their credit card details on a page that looks slightly off but feels safe enough in the moment.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

The good news is that a few deliberate habits can greatly reduce your risk. Here are practical steps, based on consumer safety advice that security experts have recommended for years.

  • Pause before you pay. When you see an offer that feels urgent, stop and take at least 30 seconds. Check the URL. Does it use HTTPS? Is the domain name correct (e.g., amazon.com not amaz0n- deals.net)? If anything seems off, close the tab.

  • Verify the seller. For unfamiliar websites, look up independent reviews from sources you trust, not just testimonials on the site itself. Check the Better Business Bureau or search the company name plus “scam” to see if others have complained.

  • Use secure payment methods. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or direct bank transfers. Avoid sending money via wire transfer or gift cards; those are nearly impossible to recover.

  • Avoid shopping on public Wi‑Fi when entering payment details. If you must use an unsecured network, enable a VPN or use cellular data instead.

  • Trust your instincts, but double‑check. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. That doesn’t mean you should automatically ignore all bargains, but it does mean you should verify the store’s return policy, shipping costs, and contact information before handing over your money.

  • Install a browser extension that flags known scam sites. Many antivirus programs and password managers include this feature as a simple layer of protection.

Making Safety a Habit

The KnowBe4 report underscores that knowledge alone isn’t enough—we have to change our behavior in the moment. That’s hard to do when a discount is on the line, but the cost of a scam is often far higher than the money lost. Stolen payment details, identity theft, and months of hassle are not worth a quick purchase.

Start by adopting one of the steps above today. Over time, these small checks will become automatic, and you’ll be far less likely to ignore a warning when it really matters.

Sources

  • KnowBe4. “Online Shoppers Increasingly Ignore Scam Warning Signs.” June 25, 2026. Link to full report (if available; otherwise cite the news article that covered it).