Online Shopping Scams Surge: How to Spot and Avoid Fraud When Buying Online

When 400 Scam Attempts Hit in One Day: What Online Shoppers Need to Know Last month, cybersecurity monitors in Belarus recorded a single day where online shoppers faced roughly 400 scam attempts, according to a report from Belsat.eu. While this spike happened in Eastern Europe, the tactics behind these attempts are not confined to any one region. Online shopping scams follow the same playbook everywhere. Understanding that playbook is the best way to avoid losing money or personal information. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

Prom Dress Season Brings Fake Websites: How to Spot and Avoid Online Dress Scams

Prom Dress Season Brings Fake Websites: How to Spot and Avoid Online Dress Scams With prom season underway, families and teens are searching online for the perfect dress. But alongside legitimate retailers, scammers are setting up websites that look real but exist only to take your money. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued an alert for shoppers in the Hudson Valley region, warning of fake prom dress websites that have stolen images, unrealistically low prices, and no intention of delivering anything. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Warning and Tips

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Warning and Tips Prom season is around the corner, and for many families in the Hudson Valley that means searching online for the perfect dress. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a local alert about scam websites that imitate legitimate prom dress retailers. These sites take payments and disappear—leaving shoppers with no dress and no refund. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

Online Shopping Scams Are More Common Than You Think – How to Spot and Avoid Them

Online Shopping Scams Are More Common Than You Think – How to Spot and Avoid Them Nearly one in three Americans has been hit by an online shopping scam, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. That number might sound high, but if you’ve ever clicked a social media ad for a deal that felt too good to be true, you know how easy it is to get drawn in. The good news? Most of these scams follow recognizable patterns, and once you know what to look for, they become much easier to sidestep. ...

May 13, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here's What to Watch For

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s What to Watch For If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true ad on social media or received a suspicious text about a delayed package, you’re not alone. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults — 32 percent — say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t something that only happens to careless shoppers; it’s widespread enough that most of us know someone it has affected. ...

May 13, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online — Are You Next?

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online — Are You Next? A new survey from the Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are not rare. According to the data, about 31 percent of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s nearly one in three people. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: A Scam Alert for Online Shoppers

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: A Scam Alert for Online Shoppers If you’ve started shopping for prom or another formal event, you’ve probably noticed dozens of websites offering dresses at prices that look too good to be true. Recently, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a specific alert about fake prom dress websites targeting shoppers in New York’s Hudson Valley. But this kind of scam isn’t limited to one region. As prom season heats up across the country, fraudulent clothing sites tend to multiply. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself—or your money—if you stumble into one of these traps. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Stop Them Before You Lose Money

Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Stop Them Before You Lose Money Online shopping has never been more convenient—or more dangerous for your wallet. A recent report from Belarus showed that in a single day, authorities logged 400 scam attempts targeting online shoppers. While that number may seem far away, the tactics used there are the same ones hitting marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon every day. Here’s what happened, why it matters for you, and how to keep your money safe. ...

May 13, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid Being Next

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid Being Next If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large enough number to suggest that virtually everyone who shops on the internet either knows someone affected or has been hit themselves. The question is: what can you do to avoid becoming part of that statistic? ...

May 13, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk

400 scam attempts in a single day: What online shoppers need to know to stay safe

400 scam attempts in a single day: What online shoppers need to know to stay safe Intro A recent report out of Belarus paints a stark picture of the current online shopping landscape: in just one day, security systems recorded 400 separate scam attempts targeting consumers. While the number comes from a single country, the pattern is global and accelerating. Fraudsters are getting more aggressive, and everyday shoppers are the ones paying the price. ...

May 13, 2026 · 5 min · BriefArc Desk