Fraud Prevention

Online Shopping Scams Are on the Rise: How to Protect Yourself In May 2026, Belarusian authorities reported that citizens logged roughly 400 online shopping scam attempts in a single day. That number is striking, but it’s not an isolated case—similar spikes have been recorded in other countries over the past year. Whether you live in Minsk, Manchester, or Manila, the tactics used by fraudsters are increasingly similar, and the risk for ordinary shoppers is real. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Surging—Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve been shopping online more lately, you’re not alone. But neither are the scammers. A recent report from Belarus documented 400 attempted online shopping frauds in a single day, a sharp spike that signals a broader trend. For anyone buying goods through websites, social media ads, or peer-to-peer marketplaces, the risk is real—and growing. ...

One in Three Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Stay Safe According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have been the victim of an online shopping scam. That number may sound high, but anyone who regularly shops online—especially through social media or unfamiliar websites—knows how easy it is to get burned. As holiday shopping ramps up and social commerce continues to grow, understanding the landscape of these scams and knowing how to defend against them is more important than ever. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Avoid Them If you were shopping online in Belarus in mid-May 2026, you might have been one of the hundreds of people who encountered a fraudulent offer. On a single day, authorities recorded roughly 400 online shopping scam attempts—a number that points to a wider problem that reaches well beyond any one country. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Surging—Here’s How to Spot and Avoid Them Last week, Belarusian authorities reported that consumers logged roughly 400 online shopping scam attempts in a single day. The figure, published by Belsat.eu, is striking—not because the number itself is massive on a national scale, but because it suggests a concentrated burst of fraud targeting ordinary people who were simply trying to buy something online. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them If you shop online, you’ve probably seen a deal that seemed too good to pass up—a designer handbag for $30, a new smartphone at half the retail price, or a “limited time” flash sale from a brand you’ve never heard of. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, roughly one out of every three U.S. adults has fallen for a scam like that, or at least had one attempted on them. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Warning and Safety Tips Prom season is here, and across the Hudson Valley and beyond, shoppers are hunting for the perfect dress. Unfortunately, scammers are also busy. The Better Business Bureau recently issued an alert for Hudson Valley shoppers warning about fake prom dress websites that take money and never deliver. ...

How to Spot a Fake Prom Dress Website: BBB Warning for Shoppers Prom season is ramping up, and with it comes a predictable spike in scam websites pretending to sell formal dresses. The Better Business Bureau recently issued an alert for Hudson Valley shoppers, but the problem isn’t limited to that region. Fake prom dress sites appear every spring across the country, often using stolen images and offering prices that don’t match reality. Here’s what to look for so you don’t lose money—or your personal information. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Everywhere: How to Protect Yourself What Happened On May 12, 2026, authorities in Belarus recorded 400 online shopping scam attempts in a single day, according to a report by belsat.eu. That number likely represents only a fraction of the total—many scams go unreported because victims are embarrassed or unsure where to file a complaint. ...

When 400 Scam Attempts Hit in One Day: What Online Shoppers Need to Know Last month, cybersecurity monitors in Belarus recorded a single day where online shoppers faced roughly 400 scam attempts, according to a report from Belsat.eu. While this spike happened in Eastern Europe, the tactics behind these attempts are not confined to any one region. Online shopping scams follow the same playbook everywhere. Understanding that playbook is the best way to avoid losing money or personal information. ...