Consumer Safety

Fake Productivity Apps Can Now Bypass Security Warnings – Here’s How to Stay Safe If you download free tools like text editors, system cleaners, or messaging apps, there’s a new trick cybercriminals are using that makes their malware look trustworthy. It’s called TamperedChef, and it works by wrapping malicious code inside what appears to be a legitimate, signed application. This means your computer may not flag it as dangerous, even though it’s designed to steal your passwords or give attackers remote control of your machine. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Stay Safe If you shop online, the odds are uncomfortably high that you’ve already been targeted. According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic alone should give anyone pause, but the real concern is that these scams are becoming more common and more convincing. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Advice from the VA Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but the convenience comes with a persistent risk: scams. Every year, fraudsters invent new ways to separate shoppers from their money and personal information. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published several recent articles warning about these threats, focusing on how veterans and the general public can stay safe. This guide distills that advice into a straightforward set of practices you can use right now. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Online – Here’s How to Avoid It Online shopping is now a daily habit for millions of Americans. But a new survey from Pew Research Center highlights a troubling trend: about one in three U.S. adults say they have been the victim of an online shopping scam. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit 1 in 3 Americans – Here’s How to Avoid Them If you’ve ever clicked “buy now” on a deal that seemed too good, only to receive nothing or a cheap counterfeit, you’re not alone. A new report from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s millions of people, and the numbers are likely underreported because many victims never realize they were scammed until it’s too late. ...

New Facebook Scam: Fake Aldi Meat Box Deals Steal Your Payment Info If you’ve seen Facebook ads or group posts recently offering “Aldi meat boxes” at unbelievably low prices, you may be looking at a scam. According to a May 2026 report from Security Boulevard, scammers are using these fake deals to trick shoppers into entering their credit card details on fraudulent checkout pages. No meat is delivered, but your payment information can end up in the hands of criminals. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams — Tips from Government Sources Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers who constantly invent new ways to steal money and personal data. Government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Federal Trade Commission regularly issue alerts about recent scams. Understanding what these scams look like and how to react can save you from financial loss and identity theft. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Avoid It If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a “deal” that turned out to be a fake listing, you’re not alone. New research from the Pew Research Center shows that about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. With the holiday season approaching, that number is likely to climb as scammers step up their efforts. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Report an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe Online shopping has become second nature for most of us, but with convenience comes risk. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number is a reminder that fraud is not an edge case — it’s a common part of the digital marketplace. ...

How to Spot Shopping Scams on Facebook and Instagram (Even as Authorities Scrutinize Meta) If you’ve ever bought something through Facebook Marketplace or clicked an Instagram ad for a too-good deal, you’re not alone. These platforms have become huge marketplaces, but they’ve also become hunting grounds for scammers. Recently, Dutch authorities made it clear they think Meta isn’t doing enough to stop online shopping fraud. While regulators push for change, the reality is that most of the responsibility still falls on shoppers themselves. ...