Fraud Prevention

Online Shopping Scams on Meta: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve bought or sold something on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Shopping, you’re not alone—millions of people use these platforms every day. But recently, Dutch authorities publicly criticized Meta for not doing enough to stop the wave of online shopping scams happening on its services. The criticism from regulators in the Netherlands signals that the problem is serious and persistent. While Meta has put some protections in place, the reality is that the responsibility often still falls on you as the user. Here’s what’s happening and how you can shop more safely. ...

Meta Under Fire for Not Stopping Online Shopping Scams: What You Need to Know If you buy or sell items on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, you’ve likely seen the warning signs—posts that look too good to be true, sellers who push for payment outside the platform, or messages that disappear after a transaction goes wrong. Now, Dutch regulators are publicly calling out Meta for not doing enough to stop these scams from happening in the first place. ...

How to Spot an Online Shopping Scam (and Keep Your Money Safe) Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers. Government agencies, including the VA News and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), have issued alerts in recent months about rising threats ranging from fake websites to fraudulent banks. While the basics of scam avoidance haven’t changed much, scammers are refining their tactics. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. ...

Meta Under Fire for Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself Right Now If you’ve bought something on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Shopping, you’re not alone—millions do every week. But Dutch authorities have just publicly stated that Meta isn’t doing nearly enough to stop the scams that plague those platforms. For shoppers, that means the burden of staying safe still falls mostly on you. ...

How to spot and avoid online shopping scams this season Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters. Scams that target shoppers are becoming more common, especially during major sales events and the holiday season. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission, have issued warnings about the most frequent tactics. The good news is that most scams follow predictable patterns, and a few simple precautions can keep you safe. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Shopping Scams on Facebook and Instagram Right Now If you’ve bought or sold anything on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that scams are everywhere. Dutch authorities recently made that official: after an investigation, they concluded that Meta isn’t doing nearly enough to protect users from online shopping fraud. For shoppers, that means the responsibility falls back on you. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and—most importantly—how to keep your money safe. ...

Meta Isn’t Doing Enough to Stop Shopping Scams — Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you shop on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Shopping, you’re probably familiar with the convenience of buying directly from sellers. But you may also have noticed listings that seem too good to be true, or messages asking you to pay outside the platform. Those are common signs of shopping scams, and Dutch authorities say Meta isn’t doing nearly enough to stop them. ...

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. ...