Consumer Safety

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Practical Guide Introduction Online shopping scams are not new, but they continue to evolve. Each year, especially around major sales events like Memorial Day, summer clearance sales, and the holiday season, scammers ramp up their efforts. The Federal Trade Commission reported a noticeable increase in online shopping fraud in 2025, and that trend appears to be continuing. For the average shopper, the difference between a legitimate deal and a trap can be a single click. This guide covers the most common scam tactics right now and lays out what you can do to protect your money and personal information. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Stay Safe A new study from the Pew Research Center published in November 2025 puts a number on a problem many of us have suspected: about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. With the holiday shopping season underway, that figure is a reminder that scams are not rare exceptions—they are a routine risk of buying online. Fortunately, most can be avoided with a few straightforward habits. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before Amazon Prime Day Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year. With millions of people hunting for deals, scammers are also busy setting up fake websites, sending phishing emails, and advertising counterfeit goods. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued a warning about this spike in fraudulent activity, and it’s worth paying attention to before you click “buy.” ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Click ‘Buy’ This Prime Day Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year. For scammers, it’s also one of the busiest. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued its annual warning about a surge in shopping scams timed to coincide with major sales events like Prime Day. The goal: trick shoppers into handing over money or personal information through fake deals, phishing emails, and counterfeit goods. ...

Amazon Prime Day Scams Are Surging: How to Shop Safely Amazon Prime Day is the biggest online sales event of the summer, and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning that fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals are already circulating, targeting shoppers who are looking for discounts. If you plan to buy anything during the sale, a few precautions can keep your money and personal information safe. ...

BBB Warns: Watch Out for These Online Shopping Scams Before Prime Day The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about a rise in online shopping scams just ahead of Amazon Prime Day. For shoppers planning to hunt for deals, this alert is a timely reminder that not every offer is what it seems. ...

Don’t Get Scammed This Prime Day: BBB’s Top Warnings for Online Shoppers Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, and scammers know it. With millions of shoppers hunting for deals, fraudsters ramp up fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads designed to steal money and personal information. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a fresh warning ahead of this year’s event, advising consumers to stay alert. ...

How to avoid online shopping scams this Amazon Prime Day Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning on June 22, 2026, noting that fraudsters ramp up their efforts during high-volume sales events. If you plan to shop Prime Day deals, it pays to know what to watch for before you click “buy.” ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself Online shopping has become so routine that it’s easy to forget the risks. But a recent survey from the Pew Research Center puts the problem in stark numbers: about a third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33% of all American adults who have lost money or had their information stolen while trying to buy something online. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams This Amazon Prime Day Amazon Prime Day draws millions of shoppers looking for steep discounts on electronics, home goods, and more. But the flood of deals also attracts scammers. The Better Business Bureau has issued its annual warning ahead of the event, reminding consumers that criminals use the shopping rush to launch phishing attacks, set up fake websites, and push too-good-to-be-true offers. ...