How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Keep Your Money Safe

Online shopping scams have become more common and more convincing. Fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent payment requests appear regularly. A January 2026 article from VA News warns veterans and the general public to stay alert, especially after holiday spikes, but scams happen year-round. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has also highlighted fake bank scams that target shoppers. This guide covers what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do to stay safe.

What’s Happening

The threat landscape is evolving. Fraudsters create professional-looking retailer websites that offer steep discounts on popular items. They send emails that mimic order confirmations or shipping notifications from well-known companies like Amazon, FedEx, or USPS, asking you to click a link or download an attachment. Others pose as customer service representatives offering refunds or account verification—requests for personal information or payment via gift cards are a major red flag.

A specific type of scam involves impersonating identity verification services like ID.me. Fox News (May 2026) notes that scammers have used fake ID.me interfaces to steal login credentials and personal data. The FDIC (August 2024) warns about fake banking websites that claim to offer loans or high-interest savings accounts but exist only to collect your financial details.

Why It Matters

Falling for these scams can lead to direct financial loss, identity theft, and long-term damage to your credit. According to VA News, veterans and seniors are frequent targets because scammers exploit their trust in official-looking communications. Even small purchases can expose your credit card information or login credentials to criminals who resell them on dark web markets. The damage often goes beyond the transaction amount—once your identity is compromised, recovering can take months of phone calls and paperwork.

What You Can Do

Here are practical steps you can take before, during, and after an online purchase.

Before you buy:

  • Verify the website URL. Look for misspellings (like “amaz0n.com”) or unusual domain endings (like “.store” or “.shop” instead of the familiar “.com”). Check for a padlock icon in the address bar, but note that a secure connection alone does not guarantee legitimacy.
  • Use the “whois” lookup tool (many are free online) to see when the domain was registered. Scam sites are often only a few months old.
  • Search the retailer’s name plus “scam” or “review” to see if other consumers have reported problems. Trust seals from VeriSign, McAfee, or BBB are helpful only if they actually link to the certifying authority—click them to confirm.

During checkout:

  • Pay with a credit card. U.S. federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges to $50, and many card issuers offer zero liability policies. Debit cards do not have the same protections.
  • Avoid wire transfers, money orders, or gift cards as payment methods. Scammers prefer these because they are nearly untraceable and impossible to reverse.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your shopping accounts and payment methods. This adds an extra step (a code sent to your phone) that can block an attacker even if they steal your password.

After a purchase:

  • Save order confirmation emails and receipts. Monitor your bank and credit card statements for charges you don’t recognize.
  • If you suspect a scam, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge and request a new card number.
  • Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to track patterns and shut down fraudulent operations.
  • Change passwords for the affected account and any other accounts using the same password.

Extra resources:

  • VA News maintains a scam prevention page specifically for veterans: VA.gov/scams
  • FDIC’s “Scammers and Fake Banks” page explains how to verify whether a bank is FDIC-insured: FDIC.gov/consumer
  • For identity verification safety, ID.me itself offers a guide on spotting fake ID.me emails at ID.me/safety

Sources

  • “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping.” VA News, January 28, 2026.
  • “Shopping for the real deal.” VA News, December 12, 2024.
  • “Navigating holiday shopping risks when shopping online.” VA News, November 28, 2024.
  • “Online safety measures for the Veteran community.” VA News, December 18, 2024.
  • “Scammers and Fake Banks.” Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, August 13, 2024.
  • “Is ID.me safe to use? What you need to know.” Fox News, May 12, 2026.