Holiday Scams

Holiday Shopping Scams Are on the Rise: How to Protect Yourself The holiday shopping rush is a prime time for scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a steep increase over previous years. Fake online stores, phishing emails disguised as shipping notifications, and too-good-to-be-true deals on social media cost people real money. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns. Knowing what to look for can save you both cash and personal information. ...

How to Shop Online Without Getting Scammed This Holiday Season The holiday shopping season brings a flood of deals—and, unfortunately, a flood of scams. As more people buy gifts online, fraudsters sharpen their tactics. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported losses to fraud reached $12.5 billion in 2024, a sharp increase from previous years. Imposter scams and online shopping scams were among the most common complaints. Being alert can save you money and frustration. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: What the Latest Pew Data Tells Us If you shop online, you’ve probably seen the warnings: fake websites, too-good-to-be-true deals, phishing emails disguised as order confirmations. But new data from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, puts a number on the scale of the problem. About one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure comes from a broader survey on online scams and attacks released in July 2025, but the shopping-specific finding was highlighted just as the holiday season kicked off. ...