Fraud Prevention

How to spot and avoid social media scams: What’s behind the billions in losses Intro Scammers have found a new home for their operations: your social media feed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $2.4 billion to scams in 2024, and for the first time, social media was the most common way scammers initiated contact. What used to happen over the phone or through email has now moved to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. The scale is staggering, and the trend is accelerating. For everyday users—especially those who may not be as familiar with the warning signs—the risk is real and growing. ...

Warning! This New Google Scam Looks Totally Legit—But Whatever You Do, Don’t Click on It A highly convincing phishing scam targeting Google account users is making the rounds. It starts with an email that appears to come from Google—often a “security alert” or “unusual sign-in attempt” notice—and leads to a login page that looks identical to the real Google sign-in screen. If you enter your credentials, attackers capture them and gain full access to your Gmail, Drive, and any linked services. ...

Don’t Fall for This New Google Scam That Looks Totally Real If you’ve received an email recently that appears to be from Google — maybe about a suspicious login attempt, a policy update, or an offer for free storage — take a close look before you click. A new wave of phishing scams is impersonating Google so convincingly that even experienced users can be fooled. The messages use official Google logos, familiar formatting, and language that matches what the company really sends. But the links lead to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials. ...

How to Spot and Avoid the Latest Google Scam That Looks Real If you use Gmail, Google Drive, or any other Google service, a new phishing campaign reported by Reader’s Digest is worth knowing about. The scam involves emails and login pages that mimic Google’s official look so closely that even experienced users might fall for it. Here’s what’s happening, why it’s risky, and the concrete steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

Social Media Scams Are Costing Americans Billions: How to Spot and Stop Them Scams that once arrived by email or phone call are now showing up in your Facebook feed, Instagram DMs, and TikTok comments. Fraud has moved decisively onto social media platforms, and the financial damage is staggering. ...

How to Spot Social Media Scams: A Practical Guide to Avoid Losing Money Online Fraud is moving to the platforms you use every day. According to recent reports, social media scams now account for billions of dollars in losses each year in the United States. The convenience of connecting with friends, browsing products, and discovering new opportunities has also opened the door for scammers to target ordinary users. ...

Social media scams are surging: How to protect yourself from fraud Americans lost billions to social media scams last year, according to recent reporting from ConsumerAffairs. Fraudsters are increasingly moving from email and phone calls to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where they can create fake profiles, hack trusted accounts, and reach millions of people with minimal effort. If you use social media, you’ve probably already seen the signs—a too-good-to-be-true listing for a new iPhone, a sudden message from a “friend” asking for money, or an ad promising quick cash. Learning to recognize these tactics is the best way to keep your money and identity safe. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself This Season Intro A new report from Pew Research Center puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are widespread. According to the study published in November 2025, about one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large share of the population, and with holiday shopping season in full swing, the risk only increases. ...

Don’t Fall for This Convincing Google Scam: What to Watch For Scammers have gotten better at copying Google’s official pages, and a new wave of these fakes is circulating right now. They look nearly identical to real login screens and security alerts, which makes them particularly dangerous for anyone who uses Gmail, Google Drive, Google Ads, or other services. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself This Black Friday A new study from Pew Research Center finds that roughly one in three U.S. adults have fallen victim to an online shopping scam. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just days away, the timing of this research is a reminder that fraudsters are counting on holiday shoppers to let their guard down. Here’s what the data tells us and what you can do to shop safely. ...