Fraud Prevention

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Lose Money Intro Every year, millions of people buy something online without a second thought. Most transactions go smoothly. But scammers have gotten better at making fake stores, phishing messages, and fraudulent payment requests look real. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report noted that Americans lost over $10 billion to cybercrime, and online shopping scams accounted for a large share of those losses. The good news: most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and you can learn to spot them before you hand over your money. ...

6 Common Online Shopping Scams and How to Avoid Them Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to take your money or personal information. Government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly issue alerts about ongoing scams. In 2022, the FTC recorded over $8.8 billion in consumer fraud losses, with online shopping scams near the top of the list. Whether you’re a frequent buyer or someone who only shops online occasionally, knowing what to look for can save you time, money, and stress. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Wallet Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to cybercrime last year. A significant chunk of that comes from shopping scams—fake websites, phishing texts, and too-good-to-be-true deals that cost you money and expose your personal data. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has also issued repeated warnings about scams targeting veterans and military families, especially around the holidays. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe This Season Online shopping has become a routine part of life, but the convenience comes with risks that change every year. Scammers are getting better at impersonating trusted retailers, banks, and even government agencies. Recent warnings from the VA, FTC, and FBI show that shopping fraud is not limited to the holidays — it happens year-round, and it targets everyone, including veterans and military families. ...

How to Outsmart Online Shopping Scams – Tips You Can Use Today Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraud. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost billions of dollars to online shopping scams last year. These scams are especially active around major sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday, but they happen all year. The good news is that most scams can be avoided with a few simple checks. Here’s what you need to know. ...

How Rising Costs Make You More Vulnerable to Scams — and What to Do About It Higher prices are leaving many households with thinner margins, less savings, and more stress. That same financial pressure is being exploited by scammers, according to a recent survey covered by Fox 59. The report highlights a troubling pattern: as living costs climb, scam attempts increase and more people fall for them. Understanding why this happens—and what you can do about it—is essential for protecting your money. ...

Rising Costs? Scammers Are Taking Advantage – Here’s How to Spot Their Tricks When money gets tight, the last thing anyone needs is to lose more of it to a fraudster. Yet a recent survey reported by Fox 59 points to an uncomfortable trend: as the cost of living climbs, scam attempts are rising alongside it. The connection isn’t accidental. Financial stress makes people more likely to jump at offers that seem like relief, and scammers know exactly how to exploit that urgency. ...

How to Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps in 2026: Essential Safety Tips Introduction Scams on social media are not new, but they are evolving faster than most people expect. As we move through 2026, two trends stand out: the growing use of AI-generated content to create convincing fake profiles, and a specific category of attacks known as “digital party traps” — fake event invitations designed to steal personal information or trick people into sending money. ...

Fraud EDU: Essential Safety Tips for 2026 to Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps Social media platforms are convenient for connecting with friends, finding events, and shopping. But as 2026 has already shown, scammers are getting more creative—and more convincing. One of the fastest-growing threats this year is the “digital party trap,” where fake event invitations trick people into handing over personal data. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself. ...

How Data Privacy Helps You Cut Cyber Risk in the AI Era Artificial intelligence is reshaping everything from customer service to medical diagnosis. But as AI becomes more capable, it also gives attackers new tools—automated spear-phishing, deepfake impersonation, data poisoning. The World Economic Forum recently published an analysis arguing that strengthening data privacy is one of the most effective ways to reduce cyber risk in this environment. The message is straightforward: the less personal data you expose, the fewer handles attackers have to manipulate AI systems that rely on that data. ...