Fraud Prevention

How to Spot a Scam Ad: Protect Yourself from Fake Online Shopping Deals Scam ads have become a persistent nuisance across social media, search engines, and even reputable websites. They promise steep discounts on popular products, offer “free” giveaways, or mimic well-known brands so closely that a quick glance isn’t enough to tell the difference. These ads don’t just waste your time—they can steal your payment details, infect your device with malware, or sign you up for unwanted subscriptions. And as recent reports have highlighted, the damage isn’t limited to consumers; legitimate brands also suffer when scammers use their names and images without permission. ...

How to Spot Scam Ads Before They Steal Your Money or Data Scam ads have become a fixture on social media feeds, search engine results, and even reputable news sites. While much of the press coverage focuses on the damage to brand reputation and ad revenue, the people who actually lose money or sensitive data are the everyday users who click on these ads. This guide will help you recognize the most common tactics, verify whether an ad is legitimate, and take action if you’ve already fallen for one. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Avoid Being Next If you buy things online, you’re not alone in worrying about scams. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s around 33% of Americans — a figure that should make anyone pause before clicking “Buy.” ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Shop Safely Introduction A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that roughly one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That number might surprise you, but if you’ve ever clicked a suspicious deal on social media or received a phishing email about a package you didn’t order, you’re far from alone. The problem is widespread, and it tends to spike around major shopping seasons. The good news is that most scams follow recognizable patterns, and you can avoid them with a few straightforward habits. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, received a counterfeit product, or clicked a link in an email that turned out to be a phishing attempt, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. With the holiday shopping season already underway and online transactions at record levels, the risk of falling victim is higher than ever. This article breaks down what the data tells us about the most common scams, how to spot them before you lose money, and what to do if you think you’ve been taken. ...

Bought it, never got it: 5 ways online shopping scams are evolving (and how to spot them) It’s a scenario that’s becoming all too familiar: you find a great deal online, make the payment, and wait. Days pass. The delivery updates stop. The seller stops responding. You never receive the item. ...

Bought It, Never Got It: How Online Shopping Scams Are Evolving If you have ever placed an order online, received a convincing tracking link, and then waited weeks for a package that never arrived, you are not alone. Online shopping scams are becoming more frequent—and more difficult to spot. Scammers are moving beyond obvious phishing emails into tactics that mimic legitimate sellers, delivery services, and even trusted marketplaces. Understanding how these scams work is the first step to avoiding them. ...

Got scammed on an online purchase? Here’s how to spot the latest shopping frauds You found a great deal on a gadget you’ve been eyeing. The price is significantly lower than anywhere else. The website looks professional, has customer reviews, and even offers a discount code. You pay. Days pass. Then weeks. The order status never changes, and the seller stops replying to your emails. You have paid for something you will never receive. ...

New Phishing Service ARToken Makes Business Email Compromise Easier: What You Need to Know If you run a small business or handle email communications at work, you’ve probably heard about phishing attacks. But there’s a more targeted and costly variant called business email compromise (BEC) that scammers have been refining for years. Now, a new phishing-as-a-service platform called ARToken is making these sophisticated attacks available to nearly anyone willing to pay. ...

Title: Online Shopping Scams Are on the Rise — Here’s How to Protect Yourself Intro In late June 2026, Hong Kong police arrested 78 suspects in connection with a series of online shopping scams that defrauded victims out of about HK$5 million (roughly US$640,000). The operation was the latest in a string of crackdowns by Hong Kong authorities, who arrested 114 people in a separate case in 2024 involving losses of HK$73 million. These numbers are not just a local problem—they reflect a global surge in shopping fraud that shows no signs of slowing. ...