Consumer Safety

Stay Safe While Shopping Online: How to Spot and Avoid Scams Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people. But with every legitimate transaction, there are scammers trying to intercept your money or personal information. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, consumers lost billions of dollars last year to various online fraud schemes, with shopping-related scams making up a significant share. The good news is that many of these crimes are preventable once you know what to look for. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams – Here’s How to Avoid Them If you’ve ever been taken in by a too-good-to-be-true online deal, you’re not alone. According to recent data from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a striking number, and it lines up with Federal Trade Commission reports showing that online shopping fraud was the second most reported scam category in 2024. While e‑commerce is convenient, the same tools that let you buy anything from a phone also give scammers a direct line to your wallet. This article breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can actually do about it. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips from Government Agencies Introduction Online shopping has made buying nearly anything simple—but it has also opened the door to fraud that costs consumers billions every year. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report recorded over $10 billion in reported losses, with shopping scams consistently ranking among the top complaint categories. Veterans, military families, and everyday shoppers are all targets. Recent alerts from the VA, the FTC, and the FBI offer straightforward guidance that can help you avoid becoming a victim. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s What to Watch For Intro If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media or entered payment details on a sketchy website, you’re far from alone. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that roughly one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. The figure underscores how common these schemes have become—and why taking a few extra seconds before hitting “buy” can save you both money and frustration. ...

How to Spot AI-Powered Fake Online Shops That Steal Your Payment Data Intro If you’ve been searching for a bargain online lately, you might have noticed something odd: prices that seem impossibly low, product photos that look slightly off, and websites that appear legitimate but just don’t feel right. You’re not imagining things. Scammers are now using generative AI to build convincing fake online stores in minutes—and they’re after your payment details. ...

Prime Day Scams Are Exploding: 9 Ways to Keep Your Money Safe Every major online shopping event brings a surge in deals—and a matching surge in scams. Prime Day is no exception. As retailers prepare their promotions, scammers are also ramping up fake websites, phishing emails, and counterfeit listings designed to separate shoppers from their money and personal information. ...

9 Ways to Avoid Shopping Scams on Prime Day Prime Day is a magnet for bargain hunters — and for scammers. The same spike in legitimate deals also brings a flood of phishing emails, fake websites, and too-good-to-be-true offers designed to steal your money or personal information. This year, even a single careless click can cost you. Here’s what’s happening and how to protect yourself. ...

Don’t Let Prime Day Scams Empty Your Wallet: Nine Tips to Shop Safely Prime Day—Amazon’s annual sale event—draws millions of shoppers looking for bargains. It also draws scammers. Fraud reports and phishing attempts consistently spike during high-volume sales periods, and this year is no different. According to a recent PCMag guide, the surge in fake deals, fraudulent sellers, and look-alike emails makes it essential to take extra precautions before you click “buy.” ...

Prime Day Scams: 9 Essential Tips to Shop Safe and Avoid Getting Ripped Off Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, which also makes it one of the busiest times for scammers. Phishing emails, fake websites, and too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals flood inboxes and search results, all designed to separate you from your money or your personal information. The good news: most of these scams are avoidable if you know what to look for. Below are nine practical steps to help you shop safely, based on advice from cybersecurity experts and consumer protection agencies. ...

Prime Day Shopping? 9 Tips to Spot Scams and Stay Safe Major sales events like Prime Day offer real bargains, but they also attract a surge in fraudulent activity. Scammers know that shoppers are looking for deals and may let their guard down. According to a recent PCMag article published just ahead of the 2026 Prime Day, fraudsters use phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit seller listings to steal payment information and personal data. The advice below is drawn from that piece and from common security practices recommended by consumer protection experts. ...