A safer way
to shop online.
A few habits that make a difference.
Online shopping is where a lot of scams start
Shopping online is convenient and mostly safe. A few habits keep the rare bad actor from getting through.
Reported losses to online crime keep climbing
US losses reported to the FBI, in billions of dollars. Up nearly 5 times since 2019.reported lost to online crime by people 60 and older in 2024, the hardest-hit age group.
FBI Internet Crime ReportOnly about 1 in 44 cases of financial fraud against older adults is ever reported.
New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence StudyOnline shopping was the second most reported type of fraud to the FTC.
Federal Trade Commission, 2024Falling for a scam doesn't make you foolish. It makes you human, and the victim of a crime.
Almost every shopping scam is stopped by the same handful of habits. That's what today is about.
Four moments where you can stop a scam
Every online purchase is a short trip. At each stop there's one thing to check.
How you get to a store matters.
Do
- ✓Type the store's address yourself, or use a bookmark you saved.
- ✓Use the store's official app, downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
- ✓Stick to stores you already know for bigger purchases.
Don't
- ✕Click the "Sponsored" results at the top of Google or Bing. Anyone can pay to be there, including scammers.
- ✕Click shopping links in emails or texts, even when they look like Amazon or Walmart.
- ✕Buy straight from a Facebook or Instagram ad without checking the store first.
Make a "Shopping" bookmark folder with the 5 or 6 stores you use. From now on, that's your front door.
The padlock next to the address does not mean a site is honest. It only means the connection is private. Scam sites have padlocks too.
How to read a web address
Find the first single slash / after the name. The two words just before it, like amazon.com, tell you who owns the site. Everything to the left of those can be made up.
https://www.amazon.com/your-ordersRealThe owner is amazon.com. This is Amazon.https://amazon.com.order-help.net/loginFakeThe owner is order-help.net. "amazon.com" is just a word on the front.https://www.amaz0n-deals.shopFakeA zero in place of the letter o, and an unusual ending.https://walmart-clearance-outlet.com/tvFakeWalmart doesn't own this. Extra words glued onto a brand name are a warning sign.Close the page and go through your bookmark or the app. You never lose anything by taking the long way in.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Fake stores are built to look real. These are the signs that give them away.
Huge discounts on brand names
70 to 90% off new items that normally never go on sale.
A countdown clock
"Deal ends in 9:59." It's there to rush you.
"Only 2 left!"
Low-stock warnings that never seem to change.
Odd ways to pay
Asked to pay by Zelle, gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
No way to reach them
No phone number, no street address, only a contact form.
A brand-new store
Appeared this month, often around holidays, often through a social media ad.
Sloppy details
Misspellings, stretched photos, prices in strange currencies.
Reviews that feel off
All five stars, all posted the same week, or no reviews anywhere else online.
"Store closing, everything 80% off" ads on Facebook are one of the most common fake-store setups. The store, the sale and the owner's sad story are all invented.
Check the seller before you check out
Two minutes of checking is enough for almost any purchase.
- Search the store's name plus "scam" or "reviews". If other people got burned, they usually said so.
- On Amazon, eBay or Walmart, look at who is actually selling. Many items come from outside sellers. Tap the seller's name to see their rating, how many reviews, and how long they've been selling.
- Compare the price at two stores you know. If it's half price on only one site, that tells you something.
- Look for a real phone number, address and return policy. Real businesses want you to be able to find them.
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist: see it before you pay. Meet in a busy public place (many police stations have safe exchange spots) and never pay a deposit to "hold" an item.
A seller who wants to leave the platform ("text me directly," "pay me on Zelle and I'll knock $20 off") is taking away your buyer protection. Say no and stay on the site.
How you pay decides whether you can get your money back
| Payment method | If something goes wrong |
|---|---|
| Credit card | Best protection You can dispute a charge. Federal law caps your fraud liability at $50, and most cards charge you nothing. |
| PayPal "Goods and Services" | Good protection Covered by purchase protection. Never choose "Friends and Family" for a purchase. |
| Debit card | Weaker The money leaves your bank account right away. Protections shrink the longer you wait to report, so act fast. |
| Zelle, Venmo, Cash App to a stranger | Very little Works like handing over cash. Once it's sent, it's usually gone. |
| Gift cards, wire transfer, crypto | None No real store asks you to pay this way. If anyone does, it's a scam, every time. |
At checkout, do
- ✓Keep one credit card just for online shopping. It makes odd charges easy to spot.
- ✓Turn on purchase alerts in your bank or card app.
- ✓Check the web address one more time before typing your card number.
- ✓Use a strong password and 2-step verification on your Amazon and store accounts.
At checkout, don't
- ✕Save your card on a site you don't know. Use guest checkout instead.
- ✕Shop on free public Wi-Fi at a café or hotel. Use home Wi-Fi or your phone's data.
- ✕Give your Social Security number, bank login or Medicare number to buy something. No store needs them.
Ask your card company about "virtual card numbers." Some let you create a separate number for online shopping that you can shut off anytime without replacing your real card.
The scam can arrive after the package
Scammers know most of us are expecting a delivery. They time their messages to match.
Never check on an order through a message.
Open the store's app or your bookmark yourself and look at "Your orders." If nothing's wrong there, nothing's wrong.
Glance at your card statement once a week. Keep order confirmation emails until the item arrives. Do returns only through the store's own site.
A real company never asks you to install an app or let them onto your computer to "fix" a refund. Anyone who asks for remote access is a scammer.
How scammers get past smart people
They don't beat your intelligence. They beat your timing. Every trick is built to make you act before you think.
Urgency
"Sale ends tonight!"
A deadline pushes out careful thinking.
Scarcity
"Only 3 left in stock"
Fear of missing out makes a so-so deal feel urgent.
Familiar faces
Amazon, USPS, your bank
Logos and names you trust lower your guard.
Fear
"Suspicious charge on your account"
A scary problem makes you want to fix it right now.
Stop
Any deadline is your cue to slow down. A real deal will still be there in 10 minutes.
Check
Go to the store yourself, through your bookmark or the app. Never through the message.
Ask
Show it to a friend, a family member or someone here. A second pair of eyes breaks the spell.
"I don't buy from links. I'll go to the website myself."
Real or scam?
Let's practice. Decide as a group, then tap to see the answer.
A Facebook ad: brand-name leather recliner, $49. "Warehouse closing, sale ends in 2 hours."Show answer
An impossible price, a countdown clock and a store you've never heard of, all from an ad.
You open your Walmart bookmark and find a TV for $40 less than Best Buy. You pay with your credit card.Show answer
You went there yourself, the discount is normal, and you paid with the safest method.
A text: "Amazon: unusual sign-in detected. Verify your account at amazon-secure-verify.com"Show answer
The owner is amazon-secure-verify.com, not amazon.com. Open the Amazon app yourself to check.
A Marketplace seller says: "Lots of people want it. Send a $100 deposit on Zelle and I'll hold it for you."Show answer
Pressure, a deposit, Zelle, and you haven't seen the item. Four red flags in one sentence.
A website offers 20% off if you pay with Target gift cards instead of a credit card.Show answer
Every time. Gift cards are for gifts, never for paying a business or a stranger.
If something goes wrong, act fast
Speed matters more than anything else. The sooner you call, the more you can get back.
Call your bank or card company
Use the number on the back of your card. Ask them to dispute the charge and block the card.
Change your password
On the store account, and anywhere else you used the same password.
Save everything
Screenshots, emails, order numbers and the web address. It helps your dispute.
Report it and tell someone
Reporting helps stop the next person from getting hit.
ReportFraud.ftc.govFederal Trade Commissionic3.govFBI Internet Crime Complaint Center410-528-8662Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection877-908-3360AARP Fraud Watch Helpline, free for anyone
Scammers are professionals who do this all day. Getting fooled says nothing about how smart you are.
If someone contacts you offering to recover your lost money for a fee, that's another scam. Real agencies don't charge to help.
Your safe shopping checklist
Eight habits. If you remember nothing else from today, remember these.
Questions and comments
Ask anything, now or after today. Your name and email are optional.