Phishing

Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season: What You Need to Know The holiday season is prime time for online shopping—and, unfortunately, for scammers looking to take advantage of rushed buyers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported fraud losses in the United States hit $12.5 billion in 2024, a significant jump from previous years. Impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as well-known retailers, delivery services, or even friends, were among the top categories. ...

Holiday shopping scams are on the rise: How to protect your money and identity The holiday shopping season is a prime opportunity for scammers. With more people buying gifts online, scammers ramp up their efforts with fake websites, phishing texts, and too-good-to-be-true deals. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported fraud losses hit $12.5 billion in 2024 — a record high. And the holiday months typically see a spike in reports. ...

Don’t let scammers ruin your holiday shopping: What to watch for this season The holiday shopping season is a busy time for everyone—including fraudsters. With more transactions happening online, and many shoppers pressed for time, scammers have plenty of chances to exploit the rush. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, and online shopping scams are a major driver of those losses. Whether you’re buying gifts, hunting for deals, or just restocking household items, it’s worth taking a few minutes to learn about the latest tactics and how to avoid them. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — Here’s How to Avoid Being Next If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal, paid a stranger through a money app for an item that never arrived, or received a suspicious email about a package you didn’t order, you’re not alone. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, about a third of U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. With holiday shopping ramping up, that number is a reminder that the convenience of buying online comes with real risks. ...

Holiday Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Your Wallet This Season The holiday shopping season is when scammers work the hardest. According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a sharp jump from the $10 billion reported in 2023. Online shopping scams accounted for a large share of those losses, and the agency expects the trend to continue this year. ...

A Third of Us Have Been Scammed Online Shopping — Here’s What to Watch For If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for a deal that turned out too good to be true, you’re far from alone. According to a new report from Pew Research Center, roughly one in three Americans say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. That figure covers everything from a fraudulent website to a phishing email that looked like a legitimate store. ...

How to Shop Online Without Getting Scammed This Holiday Season The holiday shopping season brings a flood of deals—and, unfortunately, a flood of scams. As more people buy gifts online, fraudsters sharpen their tactics. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reported losses to fraud reached $12.5 billion in 2024, a sharp increase from previous years. Imposter scams and online shopping scams were among the most common complaints. Being alert can save you money and frustration. ...

New Google Scam Looks Real—Here’s How to Spot It and Stay Safe A fresh wave of phishing emails impersonating Google is hitting inboxes, and they’re clever enough to fool people who usually know better. The messages mimic official Google security alerts or shared document notifications. The goal: trick you into clicking a link that leads to a fake login page, where your credentials are stolen. Reports from Reader’s Digest and other consumer safety outlets confirm this scam is actively circulating, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to learn the telltale signs. ...

The Hidden Danger in Your Browser: How Productivity Extensions Can Turn Into Backdoors It’s easy to install a Chrome extension that promises to save time – a grammar checker, a tab manager, a password filler. These tools feel harmless, even essential. But the convenience hides a real security risk: an extension can become a backdoor into your system, and a poorly chosen one can expose your employer’s entire network. ...

Don’t Get Tricked This Shopping Season: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Stay Safe Intro Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers who set up fake stores, send phishing emails, and advertise products that never arrive. Government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs regularly warn consumers to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. The advice applies to everyone, not just veterans. This article walks through what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do to protect your money and personal data. ...