How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams Each year, online shopping scams cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. The schemes grow more convincing, and recent alerts from government agencies confirm that fraudsters are finding new ways to target shoppers. Understanding how these scams work and what to do if you encounter one is the best way to protect yourself. ...
Online Shopping Scams Are Surging: How to Spot and Avoid Them If you were shopping online in Belarus in mid-May 2026, you might have been one of the hundreds of people who encountered a fraudulent offer. On a single day, authorities recorded roughly 400 online shopping scam attempts—a number that points to a wider problem that reaches well beyond any one country. ...
Online Shopping Scams Are Surging—Here’s How to Spot and Avoid Them Last week, Belarusian authorities reported that consumers logged roughly 400 online shopping scam attempts in a single day. The figure, published by Belsat.eu, is striking—not because the number itself is massive on a national scale, but because it suggests a concentrated burst of fraud targeting ordinary people who were simply trying to buy something online. ...
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. ...
Gift Card Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Yourself Now If you get a call, text, or email demanding payment by buying a gift card and reading off the numbers, stop. That is almost certainly a scam. No legitimate business, government agency, or even a distressed family member will ever ask you to pay with a gift card—and the Washington, D.C. Attorney General’s office just reminded residents why it’s critical to stay alert. ...
Gift Card Scams: What the Latest Alert from DC’s Attorney General Means for You Earlier this month, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a spike in gift card scams. While the alert is specific to the District, the tactics described are used nationwide. If you’ve ever received a call, email, or text demanding payment via a gift card, this warning is worth reading. ...
Gift Card Scams Are Still Thriving: What the Latest D.C. Alert Means for You Gift cards are a convenient way to give presents, but scammers have turned them into a preferred payment method for fraud. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. While the alert targets D.C. residents, the advice applies to anyone who receives an unexpected demand for payment via gift card. ...
Don’t Get Wrapped Up in a Scam: How to Spot and Stop Gift Card Fraud A recent consumer alert from the District of Columbia Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, serves as a critical reminder: gift card scams are not a minor nuisance; they are a pervasive and financially devastating form of fraud. These scams succeed because they exploit trust, urgency, and a common misconception that gift cards are a legitimate form of payment to companies or government agencies. They are not. Understanding how these scams work is your first and best defense. ...
The Silent Weapon Against Scams: Why and How to Report Fraud It’s a sinking feeling—the moment you realize you’ve been targeted by a scam. Whether you lost money or simply recognized a fraudulent attempt, the immediate reactions are often anger, embarrassment, or a desire to just forget it ever happened. But there’s one crucial, empowering step that follows: reporting it. ...
Don’t Just Get Mad, Report It: A Practical Guide to Stopping Scams When a scammer tries to trick you, the first wave of emotion is often anger, followed by embarrassment. You might want to just block the number, delete the email, and put the whole thing behind you. But there’s a critical step that many people skip: reporting the fraud. ...