Identity Theft

How to Spot Fake Emails From Debt Collectors and Protect Your Finances If you’ve ever dealt with a debt collector, a financial administrator, or a company that manages your payments, you’ve probably received emails about your accounts. These messages can feel urgent, sometimes even threatening. But behind that urgency is a growing security problem: many of these institutions still use weak email protections, making their customers easy targets for scammers. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA and FTC Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters. Every year, especially during tax season and the holidays, reports of scams spike. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission regularly update their guidance to help people—particularly veterans and military families—protect themselves. Knowing what to watch for can save you money and personal information. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe While Buying Online Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people, but it has also become a hunting ground for scammers. According to a recent advisory from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News), deceptive tactics—ranging from fake websites to phishing emails—are on the rise, and shoppers of all ages are losing money. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns, and with a little awareness, you can avoid them. This guide outlines the common threats, explains why they matter, and gives clear steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed Shopping Online: What You Can Do If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be a counterfeit, you are far from alone. According to a new study from the Pew Research Center published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure cuts across age groups, though younger adults and people who use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App report even higher rates of victimization. ...

1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: Essential Safety Tips If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a scam. According to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center, about 33 percent of Americans say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s one in three people. The findings are a reminder that fraud is not a rare event; it’s a routine risk in digital commerce. ...

3 in 10 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked “buy” on a site that looked legitimate, only to receive nothing in return, you’re far from alone. According to a November 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33% of U.S. adults—and the number is even higher among frequent shoppers and younger adults. ...

Fake Productivity Apps with Real Signatures: How Malware Is Hiding in Plain Sight Most people assume that if a piece of software carries a valid digital signature, it’s safe. That assumption is exactly what attackers behind the “TamperedChef” campaign are exploiting. They are taking productivity apps—things like document editors, note‑taking tools, and file converters—signing them with legitimate code‑signing certificates, and then distributing them through unofficial download sites. Once installed, these apps deliver password stealers and remote access trojans (RATs) without raising obvious red flags. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips for Safe Buying Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal payment details, personal information, or simply take your money and disappear. Government agencies, including the VA, regularly issue reminders to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Their guidance applies to everyone, not just veterans. Here’s a practical breakdown of what to look for and how to protect yourself. ...

New ‘TamperedChef’ Malware Hides in Fake Productivity Apps – How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever searched for a free PDF editor or note-taking app and downloaded it from a random website, you’re not alone. Many people do it to save money or time. But a recent malware campaign called TamperedChef shows why that habit can be dangerous. The attackers are distributing malware that appears to be legitimate productivity software—and because the files are digitally signed, they look trustworthy even to security software. ...

When a Digital Signature Isn’t Enough: How to Spot Malware Disguised as Legitimate Productivity Apps You download a PDF editor or a note-taking app. It looks normal, installs without warning, and even shows a valid digital signature from a software publisher. Most people would assume that makes it safe. But a recent malware campaign called TamperedChef shows why that assumption can be dangerous. ...