Fraud Prevention

2026 Social Media Safety: How to Spot and Avoid Digital Party Scams If you use social media, you have probably seen invitations to virtual concerts, online meetups, or charity live streams. These events can be fun and convenient. But in 2026, scammers are increasingly using fake event invitations to trick people out of money and personal information. This article walks through what is happening, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself. ...

Rising Costs Make You a Bigger Scam Target — Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new survey has highlighted a troubling pattern: as living costs climb, so does the number of people falling for scams. The report, covered by Fox 59, found that higher expenses are making consumers more vulnerable to fraud. While the exact statistics aren’t public yet, the core finding matches what consumer protection advocates have warned about for years—financial pressure clouds judgment and opens the door to exploitation. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps in 2026 Every year, scammers refine their tactics, and social media remains a fertile ground for fraud. In 2026, one growing concern is the “digital party trap”—fake event invitations designed to steal personal information or money. If you use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform to connect with friends or find local events, these scams are worth understanding. ...

How to Spot Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps in 2026: Essential Safety Tips Introduction Scammers are becoming more creative every year, and 2026 is no exception. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp remain prime hunting grounds for fraudsters. A recent guide from Yellowhammer News’s “Fraud EDU” series highlighted a growing trend: digital party traps—fake event pages, fraudulent ticket sales, and phishing invitations designed to steal personal data. This article distills the key takeaways from that guide and provides practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. ...

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Avoid It New data from the Pew Research Center, published in late 2025, found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is not just a headline: it reflects a problem that touches millions of households, and one that continues to evolve as scammers adapt to new platforms and payment methods. ...

Rising Costs Are Fueling More Scams: What to Watch For What happened A recent survey reported by Fox 59 suggests that rising living costs are increasing consumers’ vulnerability to financial scams. While the precise methodology of the survey isn’t fully clear from the reporting, the pattern it highlights is one that security researchers and consumer protection agencies have observed for years: when household budgets tighten, scam risk tends to rise. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 34 percent of U.S. adults who have lost money or personal information through a fraudulent transaction online. If you shop on the internet — and most of us do — the odds are good that you’ve come close to a scam, even if you didn’t fall for it. ...

Rising Costs Are Fueling Scams: How to Protect Yourself Now If you’ve been feeling the pinch of higher prices on everything from groceries to rent, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of that stress, and a new survey suggests they are exploiting it in increasingly targeted ways. A survey released on June 15, 2026, by an unnamed research organization (reported by Fox 59) found a clear link between rising living costs and an uptick in scam attempts. While the exact methodology and sample size of the survey haven’t been fully disclosed, the pattern it describes aligns with what consumer protection agencies have been warning about for months: when money is tight, people are more likely to let their guard down. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit 1 in 3 Americans: How to Shop Safely This Season If you’ve ever clicked a “too good to be true” deal and ended up with nothing but an empty bank account, you’re not alone. A new survey from Pew Research Center, fielded in November 2025, found that about one-third of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. The numbers are a reminder that, even for careful shoppers, fraudulent sites and offers are increasingly common. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips for Safer Buying Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers. Fake websites, phishing emails, and deceptive ads are becoming more common, especially during peak shopping seasons. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently published an alert reminding consumers to stay cautious when shopping online. Below are practical steps to help you identify scams and protect your money. ...