Consumer Protection

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Stay Safe Online shopping offers convenience, but it also draws fraudsters looking to separate you from your money. Every year, especially during major sales events, reports of fake websites, phishing emails, and too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals surge. Government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs regularly issue alerts to help consumers protect themselves. While these notices often target veterans, the advice applies to anyone who shops online. Below, we break down what’s happening, why it matters, and—most importantly—what you can do to avoid becoming a victim. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Advice With online shopping now a daily habit for millions of people, scammers have become more aggressive and creative. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, have issued repeated warnings about the growing threat. A recent VA News article titled “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” reminds consumers that fraud doesn’t take a holiday—and that taking a few minutes to verify a deal can save you from losing money or having your identity stolen. ...

Staying Safe While Shopping Online: Practical Tips to Avoid Scams Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to take your money or personal information. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, scams targeting shoppers—especially veterans and their families—are becoming more sophisticated. The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. A few simple habits can make a big difference. ...

AI Shopping and Privacy: What You Need to Know to Shop Safely Online shopping has become increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence. From product recommendations and chatbots to virtual try-ons and price tracking, AI tools promise speed and convenience. But a recent survey from eMarketer confirms what many shoppers already feel: data privacy is their biggest fear when using these features—by a wide margin. If you’re concerned about your personal information while taking advantage of AI shopping aids, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can take practical steps to protect yourself without giving up the conveniences you value. ...

AI Shopping Assistants Are Convenient—But Your Privacy Is at Risk. Here’s What to Do The convenience of AI shopping tools is hard to ignore. From personalized product recommendations to one-click checkout, these assistants promise to save time and money. Yet a growing number of shoppers are worried about the price they’re paying with their personal data. According to a recent survey by eMarketer, data privacy has become consumers’ single biggest fear when it comes to using AI for shopping. This concern is not unfounded, and knowing how to navigate it is essential for anyone who wants to keep their information safe while enjoying the benefits of AI. ...

Shoppers’ Biggest Fear About AI? Data Privacy—Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve used an AI shopping assistant lately—a tool that suggests products, compares prices, or helps you find the best deal—you’ve likely noticed how smoothly it works. But you may also have wondered: what does this tool know about me? ...

Data Privacy Tops Shoppers’ AI Fears: What You Need to Know If you’ve used an AI shopping assistant lately—a chatbot that helps you find products, a tool that writes reviews, or a browser extension that compares prices—you’ve probably noticed how much information it asks for. Your preferences, your purchase history, sometimes even your location and payment details. That unease you feel is backed up by fresh data. ...

How to Shop with AI Without Sacrificing Your Privacy Online shopping keeps getting easier. AI-powered tools now help you find deals, compare products, and even complete purchases with a single click. Browser extensions, shopping chatbots, and personalized recommendation engines are becoming standard features on major retail sites. But as these tools multiply, a new concern is rising: how much of your personal data are you giving away in exchange for convenience? ...

Afraid of AI Shopping? Here’s How to Keep Your Data Safe While Using It If you’ve used an online retailer lately, you’ve probably encountered AI tools: product recommendations that seem to know what you want, a chatbot that pops up to answer questions, or a visual search that lets you snap a photo of an item and find it for sale. These features can be convenient, but they also come with a price: your personal data. ...

How to Protect Your Privacy When Shopping with AI If you’ve used a shopping assistant or let an AI tool suggest products, you’re not alone. But a new survey from eMarketer confirms what many suspect: data privacy is now the number one concern for shoppers using AI. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they worry about privacy more than any other issue related to AI shopping tools. ...