Fraud Prevention

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked “buy” and later realized the website was fake, or paid for something that never arrived, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center, about one in three Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a stark reminder that fraud is not a rare edge case—it’s a regular risk for anyone who shops online. ...

Scammed While Online Shopping? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back It happens more often than most people realize. You place an order on what looks like a legitimate website, pay with your card or digital wallet, and then nothing arrives. The seller stops responding, the site vanishes, or the product turns out to be counterfeit. The initial feeling is frustration, then worry about whether the money is gone for good. ...

How to Get Your Money Back After an Online Shopping Scam: Step-by-Step Guide You ordered something online—maybe a deal that seemed too good to pass up. The payment went through, but the item never arrived. When you tried to contact the seller, the number was disconnected. You’ve just been caught in an online shopping refund scam. ...

Got scammed while shopping online? Here’s how to get your money back The moment you realize an online purchase was a scam can feel like a punch in the gut. Money gone, item never arriving, and a sinking suspicion that you’ve been played. But here’s the part many shoppers don’t know: recovery is often possible if you act quickly and follow a clear process. A recent Moneycontrol article highlighted that victims can recover money using a “simple process,” but left out many of the practical details. This guide fills that gap with concrete steps you can take right now. ...

Got Scammed While Shopping Online? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back If you’ve been defrauded by a fake online store or a phony customer support call, you’re not alone. Reports of shopping-related scams have increased during major sale seasons, and many victims are later approached by refund scammers who pretend to help. The good news: legitimate recovery options exist, and you don’t need to pay anyone to use them. This article walks through the actual steps you can take. ...

One in Three Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Stay Safe What Happened According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 33% of Americans—a figure that underscores just how common these scams have become. The same survey found that younger adults, particularly those under 30, were even more likely to report being targeted, though no age group is immune. ...

Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season: What You Need to Know The holiday season is prime time for online shopping—and, unfortunately, for scammers looking to take advantage of rushed buyers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported fraud losses in the United States hit $12.5 billion in 2024, a significant jump from previous years. Impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as well-known retailers, delivery services, or even friends, were among the top categories. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Avoid Being Next If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal, paid a stranger through a money app for an item that never arrived, or received a suspicious email about a package you didn’t order, you’re not alone. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. With holiday shopping ramping up, that number is a reminder that the convenience of buying online comes with real risks. ...

Holiday Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Your Wallet This Season The holiday shopping season is when scammers work the hardest. According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a sharp jump from the $10 billion reported in 2023. Online shopping scams accounted for a large share of those losses, and the agency expects the trend to continue this year. ...

A Third of Us Have Been Scammed Online Shopping — Here’s What to Watch For If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a deal that turned out too good to be true, you’re far from alone. According to a new report from Pew Research Center, roughly one in three Americans say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That figure covers everything from a fraudulent website to a phishing email that looked like a legitimate store. ...