Consumer Safety

Think Before You Click: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Online shopping is convenient, but it’s also become a hunting ground for scammers. The latest FBI Internet Crime Report shows that consumers lost tens of millions of dollars to online shopping scams in 2024 alone. And according to a recent article from VA News, these scams are growing more sophisticated — targeting not just the elderly, but anyone browsing deals on social media, email, or even official-looking websites. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA and FTC Online shopping has become second nature for most of us, but it also comes with risks. Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, and government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the FBI regularly update their warnings. Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, or just someone trying to buy a gift online, knowing how to recognize a scam can save you money and frustration. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe If you shop online, you’ve probably wondered how many people actually fall for those too-good-to-be-true deals or fake storefronts. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of American adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults—a number that should give any regular online buyer pause. ...

One in Three Americans Reports an Online Shopping Scam: What to Know and How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked on a too-good-to-be-true deal and ended up with nothing but an empty bank account, you’re not alone. According to a Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33% of U.S. adults who have lost money or had their personal information stolen while trying to buy something online. ...

New Pew Data: One in Three Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams – How to Stay Safe If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a better-than-average chance you’ve already brushed up against a scam. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of American adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33 percent of the country, and the number has likely grown since the data was collected. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that roughly one in three U.S. adults have fallen victim to an online shopping scam at some point. With holiday shopping season underway, that number is a reminder to review your habits before clicking “buy.” ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or landed on a site that looked legitimate but turned out to be a fake, you’re not alone. A recent Pew Research Center study found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s a significant share of consumers, and the problem shows no sign of slowing. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Third of Americans Have Been Hit If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be a cheap counterfeit, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s tens of millions of people who have lost money or personal information to fraudulent sellers, fake websites, or deceptive ads. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Avoid It If you’ve ever clicked a too‑good‑to‑be‑true deal, only to receive nothing or a counterfeit, you’re far from alone. New research from Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That works out to roughly 33% of U.S. adults – a number that has grown as e‑commerce and social media shopping have become routine. Understanding how these scams work and how to spot them is the best defense, especially as holiday shopping ramps up. ...

One in Three Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself According to a new Pew Research Center survey released in November 2025, about a third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a striking figure, one that cuts across age, income, and tech comfort levels. If you shop online—and most of us do—it’s worth understanding what these scams look like and how to keep your money and personal information safe. ...