Consumer Protection

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. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are More Common Than You Think – How to Spot and Avoid Them Nearly one in three Americans has been hit by an online shopping scam, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. That number might sound high, but if you’ve ever clicked a social media ad for a deal that felt too good to be true, you know how easy it is to get drawn in. The good news? Most of these scams follow recognizable patterns, and once you know what to look for, they become much easier to sidestep. ...

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? ...