Phishing

Shop Smart This Father’s Day and Prime Day: How to Spot Scams Before You Buy Record spending is expected this Father’s Day and Amazon Prime Day, with consumers looking for gifts and deals. But scammers are also gearing up for the surge. Phishing emails, fake shopping sites, and too-good-to-be-true offers on social media become more common during these high-traffic events. A recent WRAL report highlighted that fraud attempts tend to spike when shoppers are rushing to buy (source: WRAL, June 19, 2026). Here’s a practical guide to spotting and avoiding the most common scams, so you can shop safely. ...

Prime Day and Father’s Day Sales: How to Spot Scams and Shop Safely Retailers are expecting record spending this Father’s Day and Prime Day, according to recent reports from WRAL. With consumers hunting for deals, scammers are also ramping up their efforts to take advantage of the rush. Knowing what to look for can help you save money without losing it to fraud. ...

Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Father’s Day or Prime Day Deals – Here’s How to Shop Safe Introduction This weekend marks Father’s Day (June 21, 2026), and Amazon’s Prime Day is expected to follow in mid-July – though the exact dates have not been announced yet. Retail analysts predict record consumer spending during this period, which means the usual flood of deals, discounts, and limited-time offers. Unfortunately, it also means a spike in online shopping scams. According to a recent WRAL report, scammers are already ramping up attempts to trick shoppers with fake websites, phishing emails, and offers that seem too good to be true. Knowing what to look for can help you save money without putting your personal data or bank account at risk. ...

Update Your Privacy Tools Now: Cybersecurity Risks Are Rising with AI AI is making cyberattacks faster, cheaper, and harder to spot. In the past year, security researchers have documented a sharp rise in AI-generated phishing emails that mimic real contacts with near-perfect grammar, deepfake voice calls impersonating colleagues or family members, and automated vulnerability scanners that probe thousands of accounts in minutes. The same technology that powers helpful chatbots is now being used to crack passwords, guess security questions, and tailor scams that fool even cautious users. ...

Prime Day and Father’s Day: How to Shop Smart and Outsmart Scammers Record spending is expected this Father’s Day and ahead of Prime Day, according to reports. But where there’s a surge in online shopping, there’s usually a surge in scams. Phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit goods all become more common when shoppers are hunting for deals. ...

Shop Smart This Prime Day and Father’s Day: How to Avoid Scams Spending for Father’s Day and Amazon Prime Day is expected to hit new highs this year. According to the National Retail Federation and other analysts, combined consumer outlays could surpass last year’s records — good news for retailers, but also an open invitation for scammers. Fake deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites surge during these high-traffic periods. With a few deliberate habits, you can keep your purchases safe and your personal information private. ...

Updating Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era: Five Practical Steps AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape faster than most consumers realize. Attacks are more automated, more personalized, and harder to spot. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently noted how AI is speeding up cybercrime by exposing security flaws in existing systems. For the average person, this means the privacy tools and settings that worked a couple of years ago may no longer be effective. Below is a grounded, practical guide to updating your digital defenses. ...

Shopping for Father’s Day and Prime Day? Here’s How to Avoid Scams and Keep More of Your Money By the time you read this, you’ve probably seen the ads, the countdown clocks, and the email subject lines promising “unmissable” deals. Father’s Day and Prime Day fall close together this year, and retailers are expecting record spending. But so are scammers. Every major shopping event brings a predictable surge in fake websites, phishing emails, and social-media posts that look like incredible bargains—until you check your bank account. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Finances The convenience of buying almost anything online has made e-commerce a part of daily life for most Americans. But that same convenience has also made online shoppers a prime target for fraud. Government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have reported a steady increase in online shopping scams over the past several years. In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 880,000 complaints, with total losses exceeding $12.5 billion—a record high. A significant portion of those complaints involved online shopping fraud. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Practical Guide Based on Official Advice Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks and a package arrives at your door within days. But that convenience also attracts scammers who are constantly refining their tactics. The good news is that federal agencies—including the VA, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI—regularly publish clear guidance on how to recognize and avoid these scams. This article pulls together their latest advice, with special attention to veterans and military families, though the tips apply to everyone. ...