Consumer Protection

AI Health Bots Promise Help—But Their Privacy Policies Are Hiding Something It starts innocently enough: you type a few symptoms into a friendly chat window, and within seconds an AI health bot offers possible explanations, suggests next steps, or even recommends you see a doctor. These tools are convenient, non-judgmental, and available 24/7. But beneath that helpful interface, your personal health data is being collected, stored, and sometimes shared in ways that few users fully understand. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips for Safer Buying Online shopping has become a routine part of everyday life for most people. But along with the convenience comes a steady stream of scams designed to separate you from your money or personal information. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost more than $300 million to online shopping fraud in 2023 alone. That number has been rising year after year, and the methods scammers use keep evolving. Whether you are a seasoned online buyer or someone who shops only occasionally, understanding the warning signs and taking a few preventive steps can make a real difference. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: What to Watch For If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a link in an email that looked like it came from a store you trust, you’re not alone. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure, published in November 2025, puts the problem on a scale that most of us would rather ignore, especially as holiday shopping ramps up. ...

Online Shopping Scams: What to Watch For and How to Stay Safe Online shopping is convenient, but it also opens the door to scams. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report noted that online shopping fraud remains one of the most common complaints, with losses running into hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs regularly issue alerts to help consumers recognize and avoid these threats. ...

Don’t Get Duped While Shopping Online: Simple Ways to Spot a Scam Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters who set up fake websites, send phishing emails, and advertise deals that don’t exist. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost more than $300 million to online shopping scams in 2023 alone. A recent alert from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” – echoes what many security experts have been saying: scammers are getting better at looking legitimate. ...

AI Is Changing Cyber Risks: Here’s How to Keep Your Data Safe Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we work, shop, and communicate. But the same technology that powers helpful chatbots and smart assistants also introduces new threats to your privacy and security. The World Economic Forum recently published a report on cutting cyber risk in the AI era, and its findings matter for everyone who uses digital tools. Here’s a plain‑language look at what’s changing and what you can do about it. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Lose Money Intro Every year, millions of people buy something online without a second thought. Most transactions go smoothly. But scammers have gotten better at making fake stores, phishing messages, and fraudulent payment requests look real. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report noted that Americans lost over $10 billion to cybercrime, and online shopping scams accounted for a large share of those losses. The good news: most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and you can learn to spot them before you hand over your money. ...

6 Common Online Shopping Scams and How to Avoid Them Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to take your money or personal information. Government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly issue alerts about ongoing scams. In 2022, the FTC recorded over $8.8 billion in consumer fraud losses, with online shopping scams near the top of the list. Whether you’re a frequent buyer or someone who only shops online occasionally, knowing what to look for can save you time, money, and stress. ...

How to Protect Your Privacy from AI-Powered Cyber Risks If you’ve used a chatbot, image generator, or AI writing assistant lately, you’ve probably noticed how capable these tools have become. But the same technology that makes them useful also introduces new ways for your data to be exposed—and new avenues for scammers to exploit. As more companies adopt AI, understanding how to guard your personal information is no longer optional. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe This Season Online shopping has become a routine part of life, but the convenience comes with risks that change every year. Scammers are getting better at impersonating trusted retailers, banks, and even government agencies. Recent warnings from the VA, FTC, and FBI show that shopping fraud is not limited to the holidays — it happens year-round, and it targets everyone, including veterans and military families. ...