Scam Awareness

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Scammed While Shopping Online – What You Need to Know If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media, paid for an item through a peer-to-peer app, or ordered from a site that looked professional but turned out to be fake, you’re not alone. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. With holiday shopping in full swing and more transactions happening outside traditional e-commerce platforms, understanding the scope of the problem and how to protect yourself has never been more timely. ...

Online shopping scams hit 1 in 3 Americans: Here’s how to spot and avoid them If you’ve bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a link that led to a fake checkout page, you are far from alone. According to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That number is a reminder that fraudulent listings, phony storefronts, and payment app tricks are no longer rare — they’ve become a standard risk of digital commerce. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams — Practical Advice from Government Experts Online shopping scams aren’t going away, and they’re getting harder to spot. Fake websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals cost consumers millions each year. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, regularly issue warnings about these threats. This guide brings together their advice to help you shop more safely. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before They Steal Your Money Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but the convenience comes with a growing risk. Scammers are constantly refining their tactics, and government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have issued repeated warnings. Whether you’re a seasoned online buyer or someone who only shops occasionally, understanding the common signs of a scam can save you money and stress. ...

How to Shop Online Without Getting Scammed: A Practical Guide Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers. According to a January 2026 article from VA News, fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals are becoming more common year-round. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and USA Today have also reported on fake bank schemes and text-message scams targeting consumers. This guide explains what is happening, why you should care, and what you can do to protect yourself. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam: Here’s What You Can Do Intro New data from Pew Research Center shows that online shopping scams are far from rare. According to a survey published in November 2025, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That statistic alone is worth pausing over—especially if you regularly buy things through social media ads, secondhand marketplaces, or payment apps. The good news is that most of these scams follow patterns you can learn to recognize. Below is a breakdown of what the study found, why it matters, and the concrete steps you can take to avoid becoming part of the next statistic. ...

1 in 3 Americans Report Online Shopping Scams: How to Protect Yourself If you’ve been the victim of an online shopping scam, you’re far from alone. According to the Pew Research Center, about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That statistic comes from a larger report on online scams and attacks, updated with shopping-specific data in November 2025. The numbers are a reminder that online fraud is not a rare edge case—it touches millions of ordinary people. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Hit by Online Shopping Scams – How to Protect Yourself Online shopping has never been more convenient, but it also carries a risk that many people underestimate. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, about one in three Americans say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a striking number, and it underscores the need for consumers to recognize scams before they cost them money—or their personal information. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online – Here’s How to Protect Yourself What the Pew data shows According to a 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure means roughly 33 percent of U.S. adults have lost money, had their personal information stolen, or both while trying to buy something over the internet. The number has climbed in recent years, and the problem doesn’t show signs of slowing. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Practical Safety Tips Online shopping is convenient, but it also opens the door to scammers. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly publishes warnings about fraud targeting veterans—and much of that advice applies to everyone. Whether you’re buying a gift or everyday essentials, a few simple checks can keep your money and personal information safe. ...