Scam Awareness

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Avoid It New data from the Pew Research Center, published in late 2025, found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is not just a headline: it reflects a problem that touches millions of households, and one that continues to evolve as scammers adapt to new platforms and payment methods. ...

Online Shopping Scams Hit 1 in 3 Americans: How to Protect Yourself If you shop online, you’ve probably run into a deal that seemed too good to be true. Often, it was. A new report from the Pew Research Center finds that roughly one in three Americans (33%) say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure comes from a survey conducted in early 2025, and it underscores just how common fraud has become in the everyday world of clicks and carts. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Tips from the VA Online shopping has become a routine part of life, but scammers are getting better at mimicking legitimate stores, payment portals, and customer service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regularly issues alerts about these threats, especially for veterans and military families who may be targeted with fake VA-related offers. But the advice applies to anyone buying online. ...

One in Three Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s How to Stay Safe A new survey from the Pew Research Center has quantified what many consumers already suspect: online shopping scams are disturbingly common. According to the November 2025 report, about a third of U.S. adults (33%) say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure translates into tens of millions of people who have paid for goods that never arrived, handed over payment details to fake storefronts, or clicked on phony order confirmations that led to identity theft. ...

New Pew Data Shows 1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams: Here’s How to Stay Safe If you shop online—and most of us do—you’ve probably wondered whether that too-good-to-be-true deal is legitimate. According to a November 2025 Pew Research Center study, about a third of American adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s not a small fringe problem; it’s a widespread risk that touches millions of households. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe If you have bought anything online in the past few years—and most of us have—there’s a decent chance you’ve run into trouble. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s 33% of U.S. adults, and the number is higher among younger shoppers and people who buy frequently from unfamiliar sites. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: How to Protect Yourself A new report from the Pew Research Center has put a number on something many of us suspected: online shopping scams are startlingly common. According to the study, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s roughly 80 million adults—people who have lost money, had their personal information stolen, or received counterfeit goods after clicking “buy.” With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, when deals and deadlines push us to act fast, this statistic ought to grab anyone’s attention. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Tips for Safe Buying Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal payment details, personal information, or simply take your money and disappear. Government agencies, including the VA, regularly issue reminders to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. Their guidance applies to everyone, not just veterans. Here’s a practical breakdown of what to look for and how to protect yourself. ...

Online Shopping Scams Are Everywhere—Here’s How to Stay Safe The convenience of buying almost anything with a click has a downside: scammers have gotten very good at setting up fake storefronts, sending phishing emails, and luring shoppers into handing over payment details or personal information. Official guidance from .gov sources—including a recent VA News article and the Federal Trade Commission—offers practical steps to recognize and avoid these threats. Whether you’re a veteran, a caregiver, or just someone trying to get a good deal, knowing what to look for before you hit “buy” can save you money and headaches. ...

Watch Out: Malware Hides Inside Signed Productivity Apps to Steal Your Data If you regularly download productivity apps to stay organized, you might be the target of a new malware campaign. Researchers have identified a threat called TamperedChef that uses digitally signed applications to install credential stealers and remote access trojans (RATs). The twist: the apps look legitimate and even pass basic security checks, making them harder to spot than typical fake software. ...