Phishing

1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal and ended up with nothing to show for it, you’re far from alone. A new Pew Research Center report, published in late November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 33% of U.S. adults – and the numbers are even higher for younger shoppers. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit a Third of Americans: How to Protect Yourself The holidays are prime time for hunting bargains online. But new data from the Pew Research Center should give any shopper pause: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. With more people turning to social media, payment apps, and unfamiliar sellers for deals, the risk isn’t going away. Here’s what’s happening and how to shop smarter. ...

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams: 1 in 3 Americans Are Victims Intro One in three Americans has experienced an online shopping scam, according to a November 2025 study from the Pew Research Center. The risk is especially high as holiday shopping ramps up, but the patterns are consistent year-round. Most scams follow a few recognizable templates, and knowing them can save you money and frustration. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Money Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. It’s fast, convenient, and often cheaper than going to a store. Unfortunately, scammers have also learned to exploit this convenience. In recent months, government agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs have warned consumers about a rise in online shopping fraud. The message is simple but important: know how to spot the tricks, and you can keep your money and personal information safe. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Avoid Being Next Online shopping has become so routine that it’s easy to forget how quickly things can go wrong. A new study from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, puts a number on that risk: about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s not a small fringe problem—it’s a widespread issue affecting millions of consumers. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips Scams involving online shopping have become more sophisticated in recent years, and they now target a wider range of consumers than ever before. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs published a warning in January 2026 urging shoppers to stay alert, and the Federal Trade Commission regularly updates its advice on identifying fraudulent sellers and phishing attempts. Whether you are buying electronics, clothing, or everyday necessities, understanding the common patterns of these scams can help you avoid losing money—or having your personal information stolen. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are on the Rise — Here’s How to Stay Safe Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers. In January 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a reminder for veterans and their families to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Around the same time, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation warned about fraudsters posing as banks. These government alerts underscore a simple reality: online shopping scams are becoming more common and more sophisticated. ...

Stay Safe While Shopping Online: Practical Tips from Government Agencies Online shopping has become a routine part of life for many people. It’s fast, convenient, and often cheaper than going to a store. But that same convenience attracts scammers. Fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads can cost you money—and sometimes your personal information. ...

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. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season The holiday shopping season is prime time for scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a significant jump from previous years. As more people hunt for deals online, scammers are busy setting up fake stores, sending phishing emails, and pushing too-good-to-be-true offers on social media. This guide lays out practical steps, based on official FTC advice, to help you shop safely and avoid becoming another statistic. ...