Identity Theft

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Keep Your Money Safe Online shopping scams have become more common and more convincing. Fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent payment requests appear regularly. A January 2026 article from VA News warns veterans and the general public to stay alert, especially after holiday spikes, but scams happen year-round. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has also highlighted fake bank scams that target shoppers. This guide covers what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do to stay safe. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Fallen for an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Avoid It What happened A new report from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The survey, part of Pew’s ongoing work on digital fraud, asked adults about various kinds of online scams. Shopping scams—where someone pays for goods that never arrive or are not as advertised—were among the most common. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Shop Safely: Practical Advice from Government Sources Every shopping season, reports of online scams spike. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consistently warns that fraudsters follow the calendar—ramping up fake listings, phishing emails, and counterfeit sites when people are most likely to click. Recent alerts from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA News), the FDIC, and the FTC reinforce that these threats aren’t limited to the holidays. They evolve year-round, taking advantage of anything from health insurance enrollment to identity verification services like ID.me. ...

Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them Online shopping scams remain one of the most persistent threats for consumers. Law enforcement and consumer protection agencies—including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—regularly issue alerts about new variations of these frauds. Whether you are a frequent online shopper or only buy occasionally during sale periods, understanding how these scams work and what to watch for can save you money and protect your personal information. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – What to Watch For If you’ve ever clicked a tempting ad for a deal that seemed too good to be true—and later realized the item never arrived or the website was fake—you’re far from alone. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly one out of every three adults who regularly shop online. ...

How to Outsmart Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe Online shopping scams are on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, and shopping scams are a major piece of that. These days, phony websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads are craftier than ever—AI-generated content makes them harder to spot. But you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Here’s what you should know. ...

Online Shopping Scams: What to Watch For and How to Protect Yourself If you shop online—and most of us do—you’ve probably come across a deal that seemed too good to be true. Maybe an email offered 80% off a popular brand. Or a website listed a hard-to-find item at half the usual price. These can be signs of a scam. And the problem is not going away. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit 1 in 3 Americans: How to Protect Yourself A new survey from the Pew Research Center confirms what many regular online shoppers have suspected: scams are far more common than most people realize. According to the report, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 32% of U.S. adults—a number that may still undercount the problem since many victims never report it. ...

Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Stay Safe and Spot Fake Deals Online shopping is convenient, but it also comes with risks. Every year, scammers set up fake websites, send phishing emails, and place fraudulent ads on social media to trick consumers out of their money and personal information. Recent alerts from government sources like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission remind us that these threats are not going away. This article explains the most common online shopping scams and offers practical steps you can take to protect yourself. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Protect Yourself Introduction If you’ve ever paid for something online that never arrived, or received a counterfeit product, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s roughly 85 million people—and the number is likely higher because many incidents go unreported. ...