Posts

Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them (2026 Guide) Online shopping has become second nature for most of us, but the convenience also comes with a persistent risk: scams. Criminals are constantly refining their tactics, using fake websites, phishing messages, and fraudulent payment schemes to trick shoppers. A recent alert from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — published January 28, 2026 — warns consumers to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Combined with data from the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, the message is clear: staying informed is the best defense. ...

Update These Privacy Tools Now to Stay Safe in the Age of AI Cyberattacks The cybersecurity threat landscape has shifted in the last two years. The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 identifies artificial intelligence as one of the top cyber risks for individuals and organizations alike. What used to be a niche concern for IT departments is now a practical problem for anyone who browses the web, uses a chatbot, or manages accounts online. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before They Cost You Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks and a package is on its way. But the convenience also attracts scammers. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost billions of dollars last year to online shopping fraud alone. The numbers are staggering, and the threat doesn’t discriminate—veterans, military families, and everyday consumers are all targets. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online—Here’s How to Stay Safe If you shop online, you’ve probably seen the warnings: deals that seem too good to be true, unfamiliar websites with misspelled logos, ads on social media for products that never arrive. But it’s easy to assume it won’t happen to you. The data suggests otherwise. ...

Think Before You Click: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Online shopping is convenient, but it’s also become a hunting ground for scammers. The latest FBI Internet Crime Report shows that consumers lost tens of millions of dollars to online shopping scams in 2024 alone. And according to a recent article from VA News, these scams are growing more sophisticated — targeting not just the elderly, but anyone browsing deals on social media, email, or even official-looking websites. ...

How to Update Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era: Expert Tips from the World Economic Forum Introduction If you still rely on the same set of password managers, VPNs, and browser extensions you set up two or three years ago, it may be time for a change. Artificial intelligence is not just making cyberattacks faster — it is also making them smarter. Automated phishing campaigns, AI-generated deepfake phone calls, and tools that crack passwords by learning from leaked databases are becoming commonplace. The World Economic Forum’s latest guidance, published in its June 2026 report on updating data privacy tools, makes clear that the old playbook for online safety no longer works. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA and FTC Online shopping has become second nature for most of us, but it also comes with risks. Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, and government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the FBI regularly update their warnings. Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, or just someone trying to buy a gift online, knowing how to recognize a scam can save you money and frustration. ...

How to Update Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era If you’re still relying on the same browser settings, password habits, and app permissions you set up a few years ago, you may not be as protected as you think. Artificial intelligence is not just a tool for productivity—it’s also being used by cybercriminals to bypass many of the privacy protections that used to work. ...

1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Intro A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. The figure, drawn from a nationally representative poll conducted in late 2025, underscores how widespread these incidents have become. While most online purchases go through without trouble, the sheer number of people affected suggests that scammers are getting better at reaching everyday shoppers. Understanding who is most vulnerable and which tactics are most common can help you avoid becoming the next target. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe If you shop online, you’ve probably wondered how many people actually fall for those too-good-to-be-true deals or fake storefronts. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of American adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults—a number that should give any regular online buyer pause. ...