Shopping Scams

Don’t Let a Scam Ruin Mother’s Day: How to Spot Fake Deals and Shop Safely Mother’s Day is one of the biggest spending weekends of the year, and this year is shaping up to be no exception. According to recent news reports, consumers are expected to spend record amounts on gifts, flowers, brunch reservations, and experiences. That flood of money has also drawn the attention of scammers who know shoppers are in a hurry and looking for a deal. ...

Social Media Scams Are Exploding: How to Spot the Latest Online Fraud Before You Lose Money If you spend time on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, you’ve almost certainly seen one of these: a too-good-to-be-true ad for a designer bag, a message from a “friend” who needs emergency cash, or a promise of easy money from a crypto investment. These aren’t just annoyances—they’re part of a massive wave of fraud that’s costing Americans billions each year. ...

How to spot and avoid social media scams: What’s behind the billions in losses Intro Scammers have found a new home for their operations: your social media feed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $2.4 billion to scams in 2024, and for the first time, social media was the most common way scammers initiated contact. What used to happen over the phone or through email has now moved to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. The scale is staggering, and the trend is accelerating. For everyday users—especially those who may not be as familiar with the warning signs—the risk is real and growing. ...

1 in 3 Americans Were Scammed Online—Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever clicked a tempting ad on social media or received an email about a deal that seemed too good to be true, you’re not alone. A new Pew Research Center survey, conducted in July 2025 and published this November, found that about one in three U.S. adults say they’ve experienced an online shopping scam. With holiday shopping ramping up, that number could rise. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening and practical steps you can take to avoid joining that statistic. ...