Fraud Prevention

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Season Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. Recent alerts from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation remind us that these threats are evolving. Whether you’re a veteran managing benefits online or anyone buying gifts during peak seasons, a few simple precautions can make the difference between a good deal and a costly mistake. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites Before You Get Scammed Prom season is in full swing, and for many families that means searching for the perfect dress online. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning that scammers are taking advantage of the rush, setting up fake websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your money and personal information. An alert recently published by 101.5 WPDH detailed how these fraudulent sites are targeting shoppers in the Hudson Valley, though the problem is national. Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting taken. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online — Here’s What to Know If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a link in an email that looked like an order confirmation but turned out to be a phishing trap, you’re not alone. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, about a third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly one out of every three online shoppers — and the numbers are worth paying attention to, especially as holiday shopping season ramps up. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online — Here’s How to Avoid It If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re far from alone. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That number is striking, and it suggests that nearly every regular online shopper either has been hit or knows someone who has. With holiday shopping and year-end sales approaching, it’s worth understanding what’s going on and how to protect yourself. ...

Online shopping scams hit a third of Americans – here’s what to watch for A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults (33%) say they have experienced an online shopping scam. The data, released in November 2025, underscores how widespread these schemes have become. Whether you’re a seasoned online buyer or someone who only shops occasionally, the risk is real—and it’s worth knowing what to look for. ...

Prom Dress Scams Are Real – What to Watch For This Season If you or your teen are shopping for a prom dress online, you’ve probably seen ads for deals that seem too good to pass up. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently warned shoppers in the Hudson Valley—and across the country—about fake websites set up specifically to steal money and personal information from prom-goers. ...

Fake Prom Dress Sites Are Scamming Shoppers: How to Spot and Avoid Them Introduction Prom season is here, and with it comes a familiar flood of ads for discounted formalwear. But not every bargain is real. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued an alert warning shoppers about fake prom dress websites that look legitimate but exist only to steal your money and personal information. While the alert was focused on the Hudson Valley region, the same scam is active nationwide. Here’s what’s happening and how to protect yourself. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Has Faced an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself If you shop online, you’ve probably seen deals that seem too good to be true. Sometimes, they are exactly that—part of a scam. Recent data from Pew Research Center confirms that online shopping fraud is widespread: about one-third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. ...

Spot Fake Prom Dress Sites Before You Lose Money – BBB Warning Each spring, as prom season ramps up, scammers launch dozens of look-alike dress websites designed to part shoppers from their money. The Better Business Bureau has just issued a fresh alert for the Hudson Valley region, but the problem is nationwide. If you or your teen are shopping for formal wear online, knowing how to spot the fakes can save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of disappointment. ...

Online Shopping Scams Affect 1 in 3 Americans: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’re shopping online this season, you’re not alone in worrying about scams. New survey data from Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t just a fringe problem — it’s part of the everyday experience for millions of people. ...