Fraud Prevention

Prime Day Shopping? 9 Tips to Spot Scams and Stay Safe Major sales events like Prime Day offer real bargains, but they also attract a surge in fraudulent activity. Scammers know that shoppers are looking for deals and may let their guard down. According to a recent PCMag article published just ahead of the 2026 Prime Day, fraudsters use phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit seller listings to steal payment information and personal data. The advice below is drawn from that piece and from common security practices recommended by consumer protection experts. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Prime Day (9 Smart Tips) Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, with millions of people hunting for discounts on electronics, home goods, and more. But where shoppers see deals, scammers see opportunity. Fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads surge during sales events like Prime Day, and consumers lose money every year to schemes that look convincing at first glance. ...

Don’t Get Scammed on Prime Day: 9 Essential Safety Tips Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, bringing steep discounts on everything from electronics to home goods. But where there are bargains, there are also scammers. Fraudsters know shoppers are looking for deals, and they use that urgency to trick people into handing over their money and personal information. ...

Don’t Get Scammed This Prime Day: 9 Smart Shopping Tips Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but it’s also one of the busiest times for online scammers. Phishing emails, fake websites, and fraudulent sellers ramp up their efforts to take advantage of bargain hunters. If you’re planning to snag deals this year, a little preparation goes a long way. Below are nine practical steps to keep your money and personal information safe. ...

Don’t Get Tricked on Prime Day: 9 Ways to Shop Safely and Avoid Scams Prime Day has become one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, with millions of people hunting for deals on everything from electronics to household goods. Unfortunately, that same flood of bargain hunters also attracts scammers. Fake listings, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads tend to spike during the event, and if you’re not careful, a great deal can turn into a costly mistake. ...

Don’t Get Scammed This Prime Day: 9 Smart Tips for Safe Shopping Every year, Amazon’s Prime Day draws millions of shoppers chasing deep discounts. But the same event also draws scammers who know you’re expecting deals and may let your guard down. Phishing emails, fake websites, and too-good-to-be-true offers surge during these sales. The good news: a few straightforward precautions can keep your money and personal information safe. ...

I Lost $150 to a Fake Store Recommended by ChatGPT — Here’s How to Avoid the Same Scam Like many people, I’ve been experimenting with using ChatGPT for shopping research. It’s fast, convenient, and seems to cut through the noise. Two weeks ago I asked it to find a good deal on a popular wireless speaker. Within seconds it returned a link to an online store I’d never heard of, priced $150 below what I’d seen elsewhere. The description looked professional, and the site had what appeared to be dozens of five-star reviews. I made the purchase. ...

Is Your Financial Administrator Putting Your Data at Risk? How to Spot Poor Email Security When you’re already dealing with money trouble—debt, credit repair, or budgeting help—the last thing you need is a data breach from the very people you trusted to help. Yet a recent report from the NL Times found that many financial administrators fall short on basic email security, leaving clients’ sensitive financial information exposed. For individuals who have to share pay stubs, bank statements, tax forms, and other personal documents, this is not a minor risk. ...

TamperedChef Malware: How to Spot Fake Signed Apps Before They Steal Your Data A new campaign uses stolen code-signing certificates to make malware look legitimate. Here’s what you need to know – and how to protect yourself. ...

AI Chatbots Are Steering Shoppers to Scam Sites? Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve asked an AI chatbot for product recommendations lately, you might have been directed to a site that looks legitimate but isn’t. Consumer groups are now warning that AI-powered search tools are unexpectedly steering users toward fraudulent shopping websites. The problem isn’t hypothetical—several recent cases have shown that scammers are actively exploiting how these chatbots find and present information. ...