Consumer Protection

Don’t let scammers ruin your Mother’s Day shopping: Tips to avoid fake deals and phishing Mother’s Day is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, and this year is expected to see record spending. Unfortunately, that also means scammers are working overtime to take advantage of shoppers looking for gifts online. Here’s what’s happening and how you can protect yourself without losing the convenience of internet shopping. ...

5 Mother’s Day Scams to Watch Out For (and How to Avoid Them) Mother’s Day is one of the biggest spending holidays in the United States, and this year is no exception. Record levels of consumer spending—on flowers, jewelry, brunch reservations, and gift baskets—also attract scammers looking to cash in. News outlets such as WREX have already reported an uptick in fraudulent schemes tied to the holiday. ...

Mother’s Day Shopping Scams Are Surging — Here’s How to Spot Them Before You Buy Mother’s Day spending is expected to hit record levels this year, according to a recent report from WREX (May 2026). While that’s good news for retailers, it’s also a predictable signal for scammers looking to cash in. Fraudsters know that shoppers are more likely to click on a deal or open an e-card in the days leading up to the holiday. The question isn’t whether you’ll encounter a scam attempt — it’s whether you’ll recognize it before handing over your money or personal information. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Advice from VA News Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal your money or personal information. Scams can appear in many forms—fake websites, phishing emails, or too-good-to-be-true social media ads. Government sources like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly publish warnings and guidance to help consumers protect themselves, especially during high-traffic shopping periods. This article distills key tips from recent VA News articles so you can shop with more confidence. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online. Here’s How to Avoid It. Online shopping has become so routine that it’s easy to forget how quickly a good deal can turn into a loss. 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’s not a fringe problem—it’s a widespread threat that touches people across age groups, income levels, and shopping platforms. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: How to Avoid Being Next Not long ago, a friend of mine found what seemed like a fantastic deal on a popular brand of winter boots — half the usual price, on a site that looked almost identical to the official store. She entered her credit card details, got a confirmation email, and then … nothing. The boots never arrived, the site vanished, and the email bounced. She’d been scammed, and she wasn’t alone. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Expert Tips from the VA Online shopping offers convenience and often better prices, but it also opens the door to scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. Each year, fraudsters refine their tactics, making it harder to distinguish a legitimate deal from a trap. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published several articles on this topic, offering practical, government-backed advice for consumers — especially veterans and their families, who may be targeted for their benefits. This guide distills that advice into clear steps you can use right now. ...

AI Tools Are Outpacing Your Privacy Protections: What the Latest Survey Reveals If you use tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini, you’ve probably noticed how quickly they’ve become part of daily work and life. What’s less visible is how well companies are protecting the data you feed into those systems. A new global survey from TrustArc, a privacy management firm, suggests the answer is: not well enough. ...

AI Is Outpacing Privacy Protections, New Survey Shows – Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new global survey from TrustArc, a firm that specializes in privacy compliance, suggests that many companies are rushing to adopt artificial intelligence while leaving their privacy safeguards behind. The report, published on May 6, 2026, warns that privacy capability is struggling to keep pace with AI adoption — a gap that has direct consequences for anyone who uses tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams Online shopping is a routine part of modern life. The convenience of ordering with a few clicks, however, also attracts fraudsters who constantly refine their tactics. Official guidance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News) regularly highlights the risks and offers practical advice that applies to anyone shopping online. This article covers the most common scams, why they matter, and concrete steps you can take to protect yourself. ...