Identity Theft

Watch Out for Scams and Stay Safe While Online Shopping: Advice from the VA and FDIC Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal money or personal information. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have published multiple warnings about these threats. Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or just someone who buys things on the internet, understanding the common tactics and how to protect yourself is worth a few minutes of attention. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Official Tips from Government Agencies Online shopping scams are not new, but they keep evolving. Fake websites, phishing emails, and bogus banks appear regularly, targeting anyone who shops or manages money online. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have published recent guidance to help consumers recognize these threats and protect themselves. Below is a practical summary of what they advise, drawn directly from official sources. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Advice from VA News Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal your money or personal information. Scams can appear in many forms—fake websites, phishing emails, or too-good-to-be-true social media ads. Government sources like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly publish warnings and guidance to help consumers protect themselves, especially during high-traffic shopping periods. This article distills key tips from recent VA News articles so you can shop with more confidence. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Expert Tips from the VA Online shopping offers convenience and often better prices, but it also opens the door to scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. Each year, fraudsters refine their tactics, making it harder to distinguish a legitimate deal from a trap. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published several articles on this topic, offering practical, government-backed advice for consumers — especially veterans and their families, who may be targeted for their benefits. This guide distills that advice into clear steps you can use right now. ...

Is That Chrome Extension Spying on You? How to Spot a Backdoor ‘Productivity Tool’ Browser extensions are one of the easiest ways to add functionality to Chrome—a grammar checker here, a coupon finder there, a note-taking sidebar. They promise to save time and streamline work. But that convenience comes with a catch: an extension that can read every page you visit can also steal your passwords, session cookies, or private data. Over the past year, security researchers have documented a rise in malicious Chrome extensions that masquerade as legitimate productivity tools, then siphon credentials or inject ads. For remote workers and small business owners, the risk is especially high because a single compromised browser can lead to a full account takeover—including work email, cloud storage, and financial dashboards. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Stay Safe Online shopping offers convenience, but it also draws fraudsters looking to separate you from your money. Every year, especially during major sales events, reports of fake websites, phishing emails, and too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals surge. Government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs regularly issue alerts to help consumers protect themselves. While these notices often target veterans, the advice applies to anyone who shops online. Below, we break down what’s happening, why it matters, and—most importantly—what you can do to avoid becoming a victim. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Advice With online shopping now a daily habit for millions of people, scammers have become more aggressive and creative. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, have issued repeated warnings about the growing threat. A recent VA News article titled “Watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping” reminds consumers that fraud doesn’t take a holiday—and that taking a few minutes to verify a deal can save you from losing money or having your identity stolen. ...

Recognizing and Avoiding Online Shopping Scams: Practical Advice from the VA Online shopping has become routine for millions of Americans, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal payment details, personal information, or both. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published guidance on how to shop safely, with advice that applies to any consumer—not just veterans. This article distills the key points from that government source and adds context from related VA publications. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Season and Beyond Online shopping has become a routine part of modern life, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal money and personal information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lose billions of dollars each year to online shopping fraud, and the methods scammers use keep evolving. The Department of Veterans Affairs has published guidance on staying safe, and the same principles apply to anyone shopping online. Knowing what to look for and how to respond can make the difference between a smooth transaction and a costly mistake. ...

1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: How to Shop Safely If you’ve ever clicked a link for a too-good-to-be-true deal and ended up with nothing but an empty bank account, you’re far from alone. New data from the Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure covers everything from phony websites that take your payment and vanish to phishing emails pretending to be from a retailer you trust. As holiday shopping ramps up and more people turn to their phones and laptops for purchases, understanding how these scams work—and how to avoid them—has become essential. ...