Fraud Prevention

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe While Buying Online Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people, but it has also become a hunting ground for scammers. According to a recent advisory from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News), deceptive tactics—ranging from fake websites to phishing emails—are on the rise, and shoppers of all ages are losing money. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and with a little awareness, you can avoid them. This guide outlines the common threats, explains why they matter, and gives clear steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself 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. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough to suggest that most of us either know someone who’s been burned or have been burned ourselves. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe If you have bought anything online in the past few years—and most of us have—there’s a decent chance you’ve run into trouble. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 33% of U.S. adults, and the number is higher among younger shoppers and people who buy frequently from unfamiliar sites. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online: What You Can Do If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be a counterfeit, you are far from alone. According to a new study from the Pew Research Center published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure cuts across age groups, though younger adults and people who use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App report even higher rates of victimization. ...

9 ways to spot and avoid online shopping scams this holiday season Introduction The holiday season means more shopping, more deals, and unfortunately, more scams. According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a significant jump from previous years. Scammers know this is the time of year when people are busy, distracted, and hunting for bargains. The good news: most scams follow predictable patterns, and once you know them, they’re easier to avoid. ...

1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: Essential Safety Tips If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a scam. According to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center, about 33 percent of Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s one in three people. The findings are a reminder that fraud is not a rare event; it’s a routine risk in digital commerce. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself A new report from the Pew Research Center has put a number on something many of us suspected: online shopping scams are startlingly common. According to the study, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 80 million adults—people who have lost money, had their personal information stolen, or received counterfeit goods after clicking “buy.” With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, when deals and deadlines push us to act fast, this statistic ought to grab anyone’s attention. ...

3 in 10 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked “buy” on a site that looked legitimate, only to receive nothing in return, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 report 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—and the number is even higher among frequent shoppers and younger adults. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips for Safe Buying Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal payment details, personal information, or simply take your money and disappear. Government agencies, including the VA, regularly issue reminders to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Their guidance applies to everyone, not just veterans. Here’s a practical breakdown of what to look for and how to protect yourself. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Everywhere—Here’s How to Stay Safe The convenience of buying almost anything with a click has a downside: scammers have gotten very good at setting up fake storefronts, sending phishing emails, and luring shoppers into handing over payment details or personal information. Official guidance from .gov sources—including a recent VA News article and the Federal Trade Commission—offers practical steps to recognize and avoid these threats. Whether you’re a veteran, a caregiver, or just someone trying to get a good deal, knowing what to look for before you hit “buy” can save you money and headaches. ...