Fraud Prevention

How to Outsmart Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe Online shopping scams are on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, and shopping scams are a major piece of that. These days, phony websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads are craftier than ever—AI-generated content makes them harder to spot. But you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Here’s what you should know. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: What to Know If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a link in an email that led to a fake storefront, you’re not alone. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure—roughly 33% of U.S. adults—gives a sense of just how widespread these schemes have become. ...

Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Stay Safe and Spot Fake Deals Online shopping is convenient, but it also comes with risks. Every year, scammers set up fake websites, send phishing emails, and place fraudulent ads on social media to trick consumers out of their money and personal information. Recent alerts from government sources like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission remind us that these threats are not going away. This article explains the most common online shopping scams and offers practical steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked on a too-good-to-be-true deal and ended up with nothing but a lost payment, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults — a reminder that fraudulent sellers and fake storefronts have become a routine part of the digital marketplace. ...

Don’t Get Scammed: How to Shop Safely Online This Year Online shopping has never been more convenient, but that convenience comes with risk. Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, and during peak shopping seasons—like holidays, back-to-school, or major sales events—the number of fraudulent offers spikes. Recent alerts from the VA, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FDIC confirm that phishing emails, fake websites, and too-good-to-be-true deals are still among the top threats. Here’s a practical, up-to-date guide to recognizing and avoiding these scams, whether you’re a seasoned online buyer or just getting started. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Shop Safely It’s easy to forget that not every deal you see online is real. Scammers have gotten better at building fake storefronts, crafting convincing emails, and placing ads that look just like the real thing. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), regularly issue warnings about these schemes. The message is consistent: shop carefully, question too-good-to-be-true offers, and know the steps to take if something goes wrong. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal and ended up with nothing to show for it, you’re far from alone. A new Pew Research Center report, published in late November 2025, found that 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 numbers are even higher for younger shoppers. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit a Third of Americans: How to Protect Yourself The holidays are prime time for hunting bargains online. But new data from the Pew Research Center should give any shopper pause: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. With more people turning to social media, payment apps, and unfamiliar sellers for deals, the risk isn’t going away. Here’s what’s happening and how to shop smarter. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: 1 in 3 Americans Are Victims Intro One in three Americans has experienced an online shopping scam, according to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center. The risk is especially high as holiday shopping ramps up, but the patterns are consistent year-round. Most scams follow a few recognizable templates, and knowing them can save you money and frustration. ...

Think You’re Safe Shopping Online? New Pew Data Says 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed If you’ve ever clicked “Buy Now” on a social media ad or sent money via Venmo for a secondhand item, you’re not alone—but you’re also part of a worrying trend. According to a new Pew Research Center report published in November 2025, about one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number is a sharp reminder that fraud is no longer a fringe problem; it’s hitting millions of ordinary shoppers. This article walks through what the data tells us, why certain platforms and habits increase your risk, and how you can shop smarter without giving up convenience. ...