As the war in Iran continues, we are experiencing pain at the gas pumps every time we fill the fuel tanks in our vehicles.  It won't be long until we experience the same pain in just about everything we buy as the cost of fuel for delivery trucks to bring those products to stores increases as well.

            More people are turning to online purchases to avoid the price increase in fuel.  Along with that comes the increase in online scamming and theft of personal information from buyers.  That includes credit and debit card information or your personal information that will help scammers obtain it.

            To help protect yourself and avoid being a victim of online shopping fraud: Search for reviews and verify the merchant's contact information; use credit cards or trusted payment services that offer fraud protection; Watch for suspicious discounts. Large markdowns on popular items are a common scam tactic; avoid unfamiliar websites and only shop from brands you know and trust; and use strong, unique passwords for each of your online shopping accounts. Never reuse the same login information across multiple sites, and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of protection if your password is ever compromised.

            If the price is significantly lower than the market value, it's likely a scam.

            Phishing scams are increasingly prevalent on some platforms. Scammers may send fake payment links that resemble official marketplace pages to trick you into entering your login or financial details. Once they have your information, they can gain access to your account or commit identity theft.

            Always verify the URL of any payment page. Avoid clicking on links sent via text or email without confirmation from the marketplace itself. Regularly monitor your account for suspicious activity.

            With the tax deadline coming on April 15, this time of year scams tend to spike during tax filing season because people are already expecting communication regarding refunds, payments or account updates from the IRS.  Scammers take advantage of heightened fear and awareness of looming tax cutoffs.  They are always looking for new ways to obtain money, personal information and data.

            Social media scams rise this time of year as well.  For 2025 the IRS reported over 600 social media impersonators.

            So be careful when doing business or tax related transactions online.

            Know who you are dealing with before you give out any of your personal information.