Consumer Protection

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online — Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked on a deal that seemed too good to be true and later realized you were out money with nothing to show for it, you’re not alone. 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 roughly 33% of adults who have lost money or had personal information stolen while trying to buy something online. With holiday shopping, social media marketplaces, and payment apps making transactions faster than ever, the risk is real — but avoidable. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Surging—Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve been shopping online more lately, you’re not alone. But neither are the scammers. A recent report from Belarus documented 400 attempted online shopping frauds in a single day, a sharp spike that signals a broader trend. For anyone buying goods through websites, social media ads, or peer-to-peer marketplaces, the risk is real—and growing. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Stay Safe According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have been the victim of an online shopping scam. That number may sound high, but anyone who regularly shops online—especially through social media or unfamiliar websites—knows how easy it is to get burned. As holiday shopping ramps up and social commerce continues to grow, understanding the landscape of these scams and knowing how to defend against them is more important than ever. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them If you shop online, you’ve probably seen a deal that seemed too good to pass up—a designer handbag for $30, a new smartphone at half the retail price, or a “limited time” flash sale from a brand you’ve never heard of. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, roughly one out of every three U.S. adults has fallen for a scam like that, or at least had one attempted on them. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Yourself A recent report from Belarus recorded 400 scam attempts in a single day, a striking example of how online shopping fraud continues to grow worldwide. While that figure comes from one country, it reflects a pattern that consumers everywhere are facing. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, losses from online shopping fraud exceeded $5 billion in 2025. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, and peak shopping seasons only increase the risk. Here’s what you need to know to shop safely. ...

Illinois Proposes New AI Privacy Rules: What They Mean for You In mid-May 2026, Illinois Senate Democrats announced a package of artificial intelligence safety and privacy bills aimed at regulating how companies deploy AI chatbots, collect personal data, and interact with minors. The proposals are still working through the legislative process, but they could introduce new rights and transparency requirements for anyone in the state who uses common AI tools. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Everywhere: How to Protect Yourself What Happened On May 12, 2026, authorities in Belarus recorded 400 online shopping scam attempts in a single day, according to a report by belsat.eu. That number likely represents only a fraction of the total—many scams go unreported because victims are embarrassed or unsure where to file a complaint. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Shares Red Flags Prom season is a busy time for high school students and their families, with dress shopping often near the top of the to-do list. But scammers are paying attention, too. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently warned shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress websites, and the advice applies well beyond that region. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: A BBB Warning for Shoppers Prom season can already be expensive enough without falling victim to a scam. This spring, the Better Business Bureau issued an alert for shoppers in the Hudson Valley, New York, warning about fraudulent websites posing as legitimate prom dress retailers. The alert describes sites that use official-looking logos, stolen product photos, and extremely low prices to lure in customers—then either deliver nothing, ship a cheap knockoff, or simply disappear after taking payment. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s What to Watch For If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true ad on social media or received a suspicious text about a delayed package, you’re not alone. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults — 32 percent — say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t something that only happens to careless shoppers; it’s widespread enough that most of us know someone it has affected. ...