- Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Back-to-school shopping is one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year, meaning it’s also the peak season for scammers! As young adults and parents prepare for a new school year, it is important to be cautious of online shopping scams. Many people use online shopping and reselling platforms, making it easier for scammers to trick people with the help of sophisticated AI techniques.
The Consumer Federation of America (pdf) reported losses of $20.877 billion due to online scams and crimes in 2025, marking a 25.8 percent increase over 2024. Of that total, cyber fraud accounts for $17.69 billion, or 84.7 percent of the total. Although consumers under 20 years old are the least targeted, this group had a 198 percent rise in reported losses compared to 2024.
Fraudulent websites and fake deals
Many young adults have reported fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate stores. These websites use stolen logos, fake reviews, and similar URLs to resemble the real website. Scam websites often have special discount deals for a limited time only, which entices buyers to make a quick purchase without confirming if a product is legitimate. After checking out and paying, consumers find that the product never arrives and they are unable to recover their money.
Another scam involves fake deals on classified listing services such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay. Scammers contact sellers and offer to buy items at full price, but they say they need the seller's email address to send a payment. The seller then receives what appears to be an email from the payment service or bank stating that the money has been sent and is currently pending. The email is fake and was created by the scammer to make the transaction look legitimate. The fraudulent email may then instruct the seller to “upgrade” their account before the payment can be released. Believing the payment is waiting, some sellers follow the instructions and provide banking information or send money to complete the upgrade. The scammer then uses this information or payment to steal the seller’s money. Some scammers may also contact the seller while posing as the payment company’s customer support, making the scam appear even more convincing.
Look for signs of a scam!
- Check the market price: While sale prices are appealing, scammers purposely advertise highly discounted rates, especially for a limited time to pressure buyers into a purchase. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Verify seller credentials: Verify the seller by checking for a valid business phone number, physical address, registration number, and the seller’s trading history.
Use protected payment methods: Choose verified payment methods such as credit cards and digital wallets. Don’t use money orders, gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. These payment options are rarely requested by legitimate businesses.
For any online shopping, it is important to record the process. Save emails, receipts, and screenshots of transactions to facilitate potential fraud disputes.
What to do if you were scammed
File a report with local police by contacting the fraud division. After providing a clear description of your incident, ask for a written police report to keep copies for yourself.
- File a report with Massachusetts Attorney General by calling (617) 727-2200 or visiting their website. Regardless of where the scammer is located, filing a local report creates an official record for insurance or bank claims.
- File a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). By filing a report, an official record of the crime is created that can help law enforcement and financial institutions as well as contribute to cybercrime prevention.
Many of us think we’ll never fall for a scam, but that sense of security can make anyone a target. The next victim could be you, a friend, or even a family member. As scammers continue to develop increasingly sophisticated tactics, it’s important to stay alert and handle transactions with caution to protect ourselves.
