Fraud Prevention

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe — Practical Tips Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers. Phishing emails, fake stores, and too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals are common year‑round. Government agencies such as the VA, FDIC, and Federal Trade Commission regularly issue warnings about these threats. This article compiles practical advice from those sources to help you recognize scams and protect yourself. ...

How to Watch Out for Scams and Stay Safe While Online Shopping Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people. But as e‑commerce grows, so do the number of scams designed to separate you from your money or steal your personal information. Recent alerts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) highlight the need for shoppers to stay alert year‑round, not just during the holidays. ...

AI Is Fueling a New Wave of Banking and Privacy Threats — Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve been following technology news lately, you’ve probably come across the Kiplinger piece on how AI could upend everything from banking to online privacy. That headline isn’t scaremongering — it reflects a real shift in how criminals operate. As AI tools become more accessible and powerful, the scams targeting your bank account and your personal data are getting harder to spot. This article walks through what’s changed, why it matters for you, and the concrete steps you can take to stay ahead. ...

1 in 3 Americans have been scammed while shopping online. Are you next? If you’ve ever bought something online and never received it, or clicked a link in a text about a package delivery and later saw strange charges on your card, you are not alone. New data from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, shows that roughly one in three American adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That number is high enough that it’s worth understanding what these scams look like and how to avoid becoming part of the statistic. ...

How AI Puts Your Banking and Privacy at Risk—and What to Do Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for productivity or entertainment. It is also being used to commit fraud, steal identities, and bypass security systems that most consumers rely on. A recent report by Kiplinger warns that AI could derail everything from banking to online privacy, putting everyday people at risk. This article explains what is happening, why it matters, and what you can do to protect your money and personal information. ...

How AI Is Threatening Your Bank Accounts and Privacy—and What You Can Do Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries from healthcare to finance, and its benefits for consumers are real. But the same technology that powers helpful chatbots and fraud detection is also being turned against us. Earlier this month, Kiplinger published an analysis highlighting how AI is supercharging scams and privacy invasions in ways that directly threaten your bank accounts and personal information. Here’s what you need to know—and how to protect yourself. ...

AI Risks to Your Bank Account and Privacy: What You Need to Know Artificial intelligence is now deeply embedded in the systems we use every day—online banking, e‑commerce, social media, and even the fraud detection tools meant to protect us. That creates a paradox: the same AI that helps banks spot suspicious transactions also gives attackers new ways to impersonate you, drain your accounts, and mine your personal data. A recent Kiplinger article lays out how these risks are growing, and what consumers should watch for. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam — Are You Protected? If you buy things online—whether from major retailers, social media marketplaces, or through a payment app—you’re not alone if something has gone wrong. A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s a high enough number that it’s worth stepping back and understanding what’s really going on—and what you can do to avoid becoming another statistic. ...

How AI Is Reshaping Banking and Privacy Risks—And What You Can Do Artificial intelligence is reshaping how banks operate, how companies process data, and how scammers target ordinary people. A recent report from Kiplinger highlights that the same technology making banking more convenient is also opening new doors for fraud and privacy erosion. For consumers who use online banking, social media, or any digital service, understanding these changes is becoming essential. ...

Almost 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true ad on social media or bought something from an unfamiliar website only to receive nothing—or a counterfeit—you are far from alone. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure puts the problem squarely in the mainstream, not on the fringes of the internet. ...