Online shopping scams to watch and simple ways to avoid them

Online Shopping Scams on Facebook and Instagram: What Dutch Authorities Are Saying and How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever bought something on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, you know how convenient it can be. But convenience also attracts scammers. Earlier this week, Dutch regulators publicly slammed Meta for not doing enough to stop fraudulent listings and shady deals on its platforms. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and—most importantly—what you can do to avoid getting ripped off. ...

May 18, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

Meta Under Fire for Not Stopping Online Shopping Scams: What You Need to Know

Meta Under Fire for Not Stopping Online Shopping Scams: What You Need to Know If you buy or sell items on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, you’ve likely seen the warning signs—posts that look too good to be true, sellers who push for payment outside the platform, or messages that disappear after a transaction goes wrong. Now, Dutch regulators are publicly calling out Meta for not doing enough to stop these scams from happening in the first place. ...

May 18, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk

Meta Under Fire for Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself Right Now

Meta Under Fire for Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself Right Now If you’ve bought something on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Shopping, you’re not alone—millions do every week. But Dutch authorities have just publicly stated that Meta isn’t doing nearly enough to stop the scams that plague those platforms. For shoppers, that means the burden of staying safe still falls mostly on you. ...

May 18, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk

How to Protect Yourself From Online Shopping Scams on Facebook and Instagram

How to Spot and Avoid Shopping Scams on Facebook and Instagram Right Now If you’ve bought or sold anything on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that scams are everywhere. Dutch authorities recently made that official: after an investigation, they concluded that Meta isn’t doing nearly enough to protect users from online shopping fraud. For shoppers, that means the responsibility falls back on you. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and—most importantly—how to keep your money safe. ...

May 18, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk