Online Shopping Scams

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: A BBB Warning for Shoppers Prom season can already be expensive enough without falling victim to a scam. This spring, the Better Business Bureau issued an alert for shoppers in the Hudson Valley, New York, warning about fraudulent websites posing as legitimate prom dress retailers. The alert describes sites that use official-looking logos, stolen product photos, and extremely low prices to lure in customers—then either deliver nothing, ship a cheap knockoff, or simply disappear after taking payment. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s What to Watch For If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true ad on social media or received a suspicious text about a delayed package, you’re not alone. New data from the Pew Research Center shows that roughly one in three U.S. adults — 32 percent — say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a reminder that fraud isn’t something that only happens to careless shoppers; it’s widespread enough that most of us know someone it has affected. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online — Are You Next? A new survey from the Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are not rare. According to the data, about 31 percent of U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s nearly one in three people. ...

Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Stop Them Before You Lose Money Online shopping has never been more convenient—or more dangerous for your wallet. A recent report from Belarus showed that in a single day, authorities logged 400 scam attempts targeting online shoppers. While that number may seem far away, the tactics used there are the same ones hitting marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon every day. Here’s what happened, why it matters for you, and how to keep your money safe. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online: How to Avoid Being Next If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a product that turned out to be counterfeit, you’re not alone. According to a November 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a large enough number to suggest that virtually everyone who shops on the internet either knows someone affected or has been hit themselves. The question is: what can you do to avoid becoming part of that statistic? ...

400 scam attempts in a single day: What online shoppers need to know to stay safe Intro A recent report out of Belarus paints a stark picture of the current online shopping landscape: in just one day, security systems recorded 400 separate scam attempts targeting consumers. While the number comes from a single country, the pattern is global and accelerating. Fraudsters are getting more aggressive, and everyday shoppers are the ones paying the price. ...

Online Shopping Scams Surge: 400 Attempts in One Day—What You Need to Know A recent report from Belarus offers a stark reminder that online shopping fraud is not just a seasonal nuisance but a persistent, fast-moving threat. On a single day, consumers in the country reported roughly 400 scam attempts, according to Belsat.eu. While that number is specific to one region, it reflects tactics used by scammers everywhere. The question for everyday shoppers is not whether they’ll encounter a fraud attempt, but how well they’ll recognize it before losing money. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: What the Data Shows and What You Can Do If you shop online, you are not alone in worrying about getting scammed. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, found that roughly one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam firsthand. That figure is worth pausing over, especially as the holiday shopping season ramps up and scam artists become more active. ...

Avoiding Online Shopping Scams: What the New Pew Data Means for You If you shop online, the numbers are sobering. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic comes from a survey published in late 2025, and it aligns with a broader trend: as online shopping grows, so do the tactics used to defraud buyers. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s worth understanding the scale of the problem and taking a few practical steps to protect yourself. ...

Fake Prom Dress Websites: How to Spot a Scam and Protect Your Money Prom season is a busy time for online shopping, and unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity for scammers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued an alert warning shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress websites that are designed to steal money and personal information. While the alert focused on that region, the threat is nationwide. Any parent or teen searching for that perfect dress at a bargain price could stumble into a trap. Here’s what you need to know to shop safely. ...