Consumer Protection

How Higher Costs Are Making You More Vulnerable to Scams—and What to Do When money gets tight, it’s natural to look for ways to save, borrow, or earn quickly. Scammers know this, and they adjust their tactics accordingly. A recent survey covered by Fox 59 found that rising costs are increasing scam risks across the country. While the full details of that survey aren’t yet public, the pattern is familiar: financial strain makes people more willing to take chances they wouldn’t normally consider. This article explains why that happens and offers concrete steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. ...

Rising Costs? Scammers Are Taking Advantage – Here’s How to Spot Their Tricks When money gets tight, the last thing anyone needs is to lose more of it to a fraudster. Yet a recent survey reported by Fox 59 points to an uncomfortable trend: as the cost of living climbs, scam attempts are rising alongside it. The connection isn’t accidental. Financial stress makes people more likely to jump at offers that seem like relief, and scammers know exactly how to exploit that urgency. ...

Why Higher Costs Mean More Scams — and How to Protect Yourself If you’re feeling squeezed by rising prices, you’re not alone—and unfortunately, scammers are paying attention. A recent survey reported by Fox 59 suggests that higher costs are making people more vulnerable to fraud. While the full methodology of the survey isn’t publicly available in the initial coverage, the pattern it describes is one that consumer protection experts have warned about for years: financial stress erodes our usual caution, and fraudsters know exactly how to exploit that. ...

Rising Costs Make You a Bigger Scam Target — Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new survey has highlighted a troubling pattern: as living costs climb, so does the number of people falling for scams. The report, covered by Fox 59, found that higher expenses are making consumers more vulnerable to fraud. While the exact statistics aren’t public yet, the core finding matches what consumer protection advocates have warned about for years—financial pressure clouds judgment and opens the door to exploitation. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps in 2026 Every year, scammers refine their tactics, and social media remains a fertile ground for fraud. In 2026, one growing concern is the “digital party trap”—fake event invitations designed to steal personal information or money. If you use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform to connect with friends or find local events, these scams are worth understanding. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Avoid It According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That is a striking number — roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults — and it means that if you shop online, you are likely only a few clicks away from encountering something fraudulent. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it is worth taking a few minutes to understand what these scams look like and how you can steer clear of them. ...

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Avoid It New data from the Pew Research Center, published in late 2025, found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is not just a headline: it reflects a problem that touches millions of households, and one that continues to evolve as scammers adapt to new platforms and payment methods. ...

Rising Costs Are Fueling More Scams: What to Watch For What happened A recent survey reported by Fox 59 suggests that rising living costs are increasing consumers’ vulnerability to financial scams. While the precise methodology of the survey isn’t fully clear from the reporting, the pattern it highlights is one that security researchers and consumer protection agencies have observed for years: when household budgets tighten, scam risk tends to rise. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 34 percent of U.S. adults who have lost money or personal information through a fraudulent transaction online. If you shop on the internet — and most of us do — the odds are good that you’ve come close to a scam, even if you didn’t fall for it. ...

Rising Costs Are Fueling Scams: How to Protect Yourself Now If you’ve been feeling the pinch of higher prices on everything from groceries to rent, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of that stress, and a new survey suggests they are exploiting it in increasingly targeted ways. A survey released on June 15, 2026, by an unnamed research organization (reported by Fox 59) found a clear link between rising living costs and an uptick in scam attempts. While the exact methodology and sample size of the survey haven’t been fully disclosed, the pattern it describes aligns with what consumer protection agencies have been warning about for months: when money is tight, people are more likely to let their guard down. ...