Fraud Prevention

Shop Smart This Prime Day and Father’s Day: How to Avoid Scams Spending for Father’s Day and Amazon Prime Day is expected to hit new highs this year. According to the National Retail Federation and other analysts, combined consumer outlays could surpass last year’s records — good news for retailers, but also an open invitation for scammers. Fake deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites surge during these high-traffic periods. With a few deliberate habits, you can keep your purchases safe and your personal information private. ...

Shopping for Father’s Day and Prime Day? Here’s How to Avoid Scams and Keep More of Your Money By the time you read this, you’ve probably seen the ads, the countdown clocks, and the email subject lines promising “unmissable” deals. Father’s Day and Prime Day fall close together this year, and retailers are expecting record spending. But so are scammers. Every major shopping event brings a predictable surge in fake websites, phishing emails, and social-media posts that look like incredible bargains—until you check your bank account. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Finances The convenience of buying almost anything online has made e-commerce a part of daily life for most Americans. But that same convenience has also made online shoppers a prime target for fraud. Government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have reported a steady increase in online shopping scams over the past several years. In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 880,000 complaints, with total losses exceeding $12.5 billion—a record high. A significant portion of those complaints involved online shopping fraud. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Shop Safely Online shopping has become a daily habit for many of us. Convenience, a wider selection, and often better prices make it hard to resist. But scammers know this too. Every year, thousands of people lose money to fake websites, phony deals, and payment fraud. The 2024 FBI Internet Crime Report (released in 2025) noted that losses from online shopping scams continued to climb, and the VA regularly warns veterans and their families to stay vigilant. Whether you’re buying a gift, a household item, or a service, learning the red flags can save you time and money. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Practical Guide Based on Official Advice Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks and a package arrives at your door within days. But that convenience also attracts scammers who are constantly refining their tactics. The good news is that federal agencies—including the VA, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI—regularly publish clear guidance on how to recognize and avoid these scams. This article pulls together their latest advice, with special attention to veterans and military families, though the tips apply to everyone. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from VA, FTC, and FBI Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people, but it also comes with a growing risk of fraud. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, released in May 2025, cybercrime losses in the United States reached into the billions last year. A significant portion of those losses involve online shopping scams—phony stores, phishing messages, and deals that seem too good to be true. Veterans and military families are often targeted, partly because scammers know they may have steady benefits or pensions. ...

Watch Out for Online Shopping Scams: What Veterans and Everyone Should Know This Season Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers—especially during peak sales periods like holidays, tax season, or big promotions. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report shows that cybercrime losses in the United States reached nearly $12.5 billion, with online purchase scams consistently among the top categories reported. Veterans and military families are frequent targets because scammers know they often have stable incomes and may trust official-looking communications. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission have published multiple alerts urging caution. Here’s a grounded look at how these scams work and what you can do to stay safe. ...

3 Ways to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Lose Money Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers who have grown more sophisticated. In the past year, the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Veterans Affairs have all issued warnings about the rising tide of online shopping fraud. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, released in May 2025, put the total losses from online shopping scams in the billions. The VA, meanwhile, has been reminding veterans and military families to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked “Buy Now” on a deal that felt a little too good to be true, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. With holiday shopping in full swing, that number is a reminder to slow down and check before you check out. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Avoid It If you shop online, you are not alone in worrying about getting tricked. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that about a third of American adults—33 percent—say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough to make anyone pause before clicking “buy now.” But the good news is that most of these scams follow recognizable patterns. Understanding them can help you shop with much less risk. ...