Consumer Protection

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. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Skyrocketing – Here’s How to Avoid Getting Duped Introduction A few days ago, authorities in Belarus reported that consumers filed roughly 400 complaints about online shopping scams in a single day. That figure—surprising even for a country with a relatively small e‑commerce market—reflects a troubling broader trend. Fraudsters are becoming more organized, more aggressive, and more creative in how they target everyday shoppers. Whether you buy from major marketplaces, social media storefronts, or independent websites, the risk is real and growing. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid Being Next If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large enough number to suggest that virtually everyone who shops on the internet either knows someone affected or has been hit themselves. The question is: what can you do to avoid becoming part of that statistic? ...

400 scam attempts in a single day: What online shoppers need to know to stay safe Intro A recent report out of Belarus paints a stark picture of the current online shopping landscape: in just one day, security systems recorded 400 separate scam attempts targeting consumers. While the number comes from a single country, the pattern is global and accelerating. Fraudsters are getting more aggressive, and everyday shoppers are the ones paying the price. ...

Online Shopping Scams Surge: 400 Attempts in One Day—What You Need to Know A recent report from Belarus offers a stark reminder that online shopping fraud is not just a seasonal nuisance but a persistent, fast-moving threat. On a single day, consumers in the country reported roughly 400 scam attempts, according to Belsat.eu. While that number is specific to one region, it reflects tactics used by scammers everywhere. The question for everyday shoppers is not whether they’ll encounter a fraud attempt, but how well they’ll recognize it before losing money. ...