Fraud Prevention

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: What to Look For and How to Stay Safe If you’ve bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a “deal” that turned out to be a trap, you’re far from alone. According to a Pew Research Center study published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That number is a stark reminder that fraud has become a routine part of e‑commerce, not an edge case. ...

Don’t Click That “Google Security Alert”—It’s a Scam. Here’s What to Look For A wave of phishing emails and browser pop-ups impersonating Google’s security team is making the rounds, and they look convincing enough to fool many regular users. According to a report published by Reader’s Digest in late April 2026, these fake alerts claim there’s a problem with your account—something about suspicious activity or a login from an unrecognized device—and urge you to click a link to verify your identity or fix the issue. ...

That ‘Google’ Email Looks Real? It’s a Scam — Here’s How to Spot It If you use Gmail, Google Drive, or any Google service, you’ve probably seen a security alert in your inbox that looks official — a message about an unusual sign‑in, a password change request, or a warning that your account will be suspended. Scammers are now sending these fake notifications with such accuracy that even cautious users can be fooled. The email might use the right logos, include your name, and even link to a page that looks exactly like Google’s sign‑in screen. But make no mistake: it’s a phishing attempt designed to steal your login credentials and, eventually, your personal data. ...

How to Spot the New Google Phishing Scam That Looks Totally Real You open your inbox, and there it is: a message from Google warning about suspicious activity on your account. The logo is correct, the layout looks just like every other email from Google, and the language sounds official. Most people would click the “Secure your account” button without a second thought. ...

This New Google Scam Looks Perfectly Real – Here’s How to Spot It A phishing campaign masquerading as official Google notifications has been gaining attention, with Reader’s Digest reporting on it on April 30, 2026. While Google has not confirmed this specific wave, the tactics are classic — and effective enough to trip up even cautious users. Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting caught. ...

That ‘Google Alert’ Email Might Be a Scam—Here’s How to Tell If you use Gmail or any Google service, you’re used to receiving automated alerts from Google—about account sign-ins, security changes, or suspicious activity. That familiarity is exactly what makes the latest phishing wave so effective. Scammers are now sending fake Google notifications that look nearly identical to the real ones, with the goal of stealing your login credentials. ...

Social media scams cost Americans billions: How to spot and avoid them Online fraud has shifted decisively onto social media platforms. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older Americans alone lost $2.4 billion to scams in 2024. And those are just the reported cases. With AI tools now common among scammers, the problem is only getting worse. ...

1 in 3 Americans has been hit by an online shopping scam — are you next? A recent study from the Pew Research Center puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are not rare. According to the data, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That is a large enough share to make the problem feel less like a remote possibility and more like an ordinary risk of buying things on the internet. ...

That Google Alert Might Be a Scam—Here’s How to Recognize the Fake If you use Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Ads, chances are you’ve seen a notification pop up warning about “unusual activity” or telling you your account will be suspended unless you act immediately. A new wave of phishing emails and pop-ups is impersonating these legitimate Google alerts—and they look convincing enough to fool even careful users. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Online Shopping: How to Protect Yourself Online shopping is convenient, but it also carries risk. According to a 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large enough share that most of us either know someone affected or have been targeted ourselves. ...