Fraud Prevention

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? ...

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. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites – and Avoid the Scam Prom season is here, and with it comes the annual wave of bargain hunting for the perfect dress. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the Hudson Valley recently issued a warning that should give any shopper pause: scammers are setting up fake prom dress websites that look convincing enough to trick even careful buyers. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media, only to receive nothing—or a cheap knockoff—you’re far from alone. According to a 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, 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 personally experienced a fraudulent purchase, fake website, or phishing attempt while shopping online. ...

Online Shopping Scams Surge: 400 Attempts in One Day—What You Need to Know A recent report from Belarus offers a stark reminder that online shopping fraud is not just a seasonal nuisance but a persistent, fast-moving threat. On a single day, consumers in the country reported roughly 400 scam attempts, according to Belsat.eu. While that number is specific to one region, it reflects tactics used by scammers everywhere. The question for everyday shoppers is not whether they’ll encounter a fraud attempt, but how well they’ll recognize it before losing money. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: What the Data Shows and What You Can Do If you shop online, you are not alone in worrying about getting scammed. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that roughly one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam firsthand. That figure is worth pausing over, especially as the holiday shopping season ramps up and scam artists become more active. ...

Avoiding Online Shopping Scams: What the New Pew Data Means for You If you shop online, the numbers are sobering. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic comes from a survey published in late 2025, and it aligns with a broader trend: as online shopping grows, so do the tactics used to defraud buyers. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s worth understanding the scale of the problem and taking a few practical steps to protect yourself. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Warns of Scams This Season Prom season is a big deal for many families, and finding the perfect dress often means hours of browsing online. Scammers know this. The Better Business Bureau recently warned shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress websites that take money and never deliver. While the alert was local, the tactics are used nationwide, and the advice applies to anyone shopping for formalwear online this spring. ...

Fake Prom Dress Websites: How to Spot a Scam and Protect Your Money Prom season is a busy time for online shopping, and unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity for scammers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued an alert warning shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress websites that are designed to steal money and personal information. While the alert focused on that region, the threat is nationwide. Any parent or teen searching for that perfect dress at a bargain price could stumble into a trap. Here’s what you need to know to shop safely. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid the Latest Tricks If you’ve been the victim of an online shopping scam, you’re far from alone. New data from Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, finds that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33% of U.S. adults — a figure that should give any regular shopper pause. ...