Online Shopping

How to spot online shopping scams and shop safely online Online shopping is convenient, but scammers know that too. Fake websites, phony deals, and payment fraud are common, and they can cost you money and personal information. The Department of Veterans Affairs recently published guidance specifically for veterans and their families, but the advice applies to anyone who shops online. Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting tricked. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season: Advice from the FTC The holiday shopping season is a busy time for consumers—and for scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans reported losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, and many of those losses happen during the final months of the year. Fake websites, phishing emails, and deals that look too good to be true are especially common as people rush to buy gifts. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Everywhere — Here’s How to Protect Yourself Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers who know how to make fraudulent offers look legitimate. Government agencies like the VA and the FDIC have issued repeated warnings: fake websites, phishing emails, and payment scams are on the rise. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can spot them before losing money or personal data. ...

How to Spot a Fake Prom Dress Website: BBB Warning for Shoppers Prom season is ramping up, and with it comes a predictable spike in scam websites pretending to sell formal dresses. The Better Business Bureau recently issued an alert for Hudson Valley shoppers, but the problem isn’t limited to that region. Fake prom dress sites appear every spring across the country, often using stolen images and offering prices that don’t match reality. Here’s what to look for so you don’t lose money—or your personal information. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Skyrocketing – Here’s How to Avoid Getting Duped Introduction A few days ago, authorities in Belarus reported that consumers filed roughly 400 complaints about online shopping scams in a single day. That figure—surprising even for a country with a relatively small e‑commerce market—reflects a troubling broader trend. Fraudsters are becoming more organized, more aggressive, and more creative in how they target everyday shoppers. Whether you buy from major marketplaces, social media storefronts, or independent websites, the risk is real and growing. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites: BBB Warns of Scams This Season Prom season is a big deal for many families, and finding the perfect dress often means hours of browsing online. Scammers know this. The Better Business Bureau recently warned shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress websites that take money and never deliver. While the alert was local, the tactics are used nationwide, and the advice applies to anyone shopping for formalwear online this spring. ...

How to Spot Fake Prom Dress Websites and Avoid Scams This Season Prom season is a stressful enough time for families without having to worry about losing money to a fraudulent website. Every spring, scammers set up fake online stores that offer prom dresses at deep discounts, only to disappear after taking payment—or worse, steal personal and financial information for identity theft. A recent alert from the Better Business Bureau serving the Hudson Valley region highlights this exact problem, but the threat is national. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself. ...

Spot Fake Prom Dress Sites Before You Lose Money – BBB Warning Each spring, as prom season ramps up, scammers launch dozens of look-alike dress websites designed to part shoppers from their money. The Better Business Bureau has just issued a fresh alert for the Hudson Valley region, but the problem is nationwide. If you or your teen are shopping for formal wear online, knowing how to spot the fakes can save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of disappointment. ...

How to Spot an Online Boutique Scam: What a 17-Time Arrest Case Reveals If you buy clothes, accessories, or home goods from small online boutiques—especially those run through Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, or standalone e-commerce sites—you’ve likely encountered stores that look polished but feel a bit off. A recent case in South Carolina underscores just how common and organized these scams can be. A boutique owner was arrested 17 times this year in connection with an online shopping scam, raising questions about how consumers can tell the difference between a legitimate small business and a fraud operation. ...

Prom Dress Scams Are Real: How to Spot Fake Websites and Shop Safely Prom season brings excitement — and, unfortunately, an uptick in scam websites designed to look like legitimate dress retailers. The Better Business Bureau recently issued an alert warning shoppers in the Hudson Valley about fake prom dress sites, but this problem isn’t limited to one region. Scammers nationwide are setting up storefronts that take your money and deliver nothing — or a knockoff that looks nothing like the photo. ...