If you spend any time shopping or browsing online, you’ve probably seen warnings about scams or fake sellers. Online scams have become more creative as we head into 2026, targeting shoppers on big marketplaces, social media, and even smaller e-commerce sites. Extra caution pays off because nobody likes the stress of losing their hard-earned cash to tricky scammers. I’ve pulled together a current guide on how you can protect your money and spot fraudulent sellers, whether you’re shopping for gadgets, clothes, or collectibles this year. First though, we’ll take a look at a family from Kansas who got scammed when they thought they found the perfect swingset.
Family from Kansas Loses Money
This is the time of year where people try to find the perfect gift for the best price possible. With many people shopping online, it may seem like you might’ve found that special gift for a really good or cheap price. This is where you have to be careful as scammers know this and will be out in full force to try and steal your money.
A Kansas family unfortunately found out that a swingset that seemed perfect for their kids, was not what it seemed especially when they never received the swingset at all.
According to the news article, the family went to order a swingset from a website called Select Sheds. They placed the order and never received a shipping email. Calling their customer service number turned into a dead end as an automated voice said the number is disconnected.
It’s sad that this happened to this family, but the news article does state that they did something that may have ended up protecting them from even more financial harm and is something that I suggest doing to help mitigate losses which I will talk about next. You can read the article here.
Practical Steps to Spot Fraudulent Sellers
How could this family possibly have avoided falling prey to what appears to be a fraudulent scammer? I will take a look at the site where they tried to order the swingset from as well as talk about other things to look out for and investigate before you decide to order something online.
First of all, after I did a Google search, I did come across the Select Sheds website. Now I will have to say, at first glance, it really does look very legitimate and laid out very well. I certainly wanted to look through the site more and see the products that they offer. They show a number of sheds, but also a number of swingsets like that family discovered. I wasn’t at that site though to order something, I was there to find signs that this particular website may not be truly legitimate.
After doing some digging, I did find my first red flag. A site like Select Sheds, to me, would’ve been around for awhile, but when I scrolled down to the bottom of the “Contact Us” page, I saw a copywrite that said 2025. Another concerning thing is that their review page has no reviews at all. That’s a HUGE red flag because even if you’re a new site, you’d expect there to be a few reviews if people have truly purchased and received the product they ordered from the website.
I couldn’t find a legitimate email address on their “Contact Us” page either although they have a supposed form that you can fill out where you leave a name and your own email address and they are supposed to get back with you. It also says that there is a live chat, but at the time I went on there it said that it was offline. The news site said they called the number and got a disconnected message so I know the number listed on the site doesn’t work. If this site doesn’t scream fraudulent, I don’t know what else does.
I also did some searching for more about Select Sheds on Google and came across a person on Reddit who also had similar problems with the site. The placed an order for a shed, did receive an order confirmation email, but never received a tracking email. This person also tried calling the number, filling in a contact form, and using chat, but all yielded no results. Some other people responded saying they’ve been scammed also, with one reporting it to the Better Business Bureau. Another one used their credit card and found unusual charges that were supposed to be from the site, but were supposedly routed through a hair salon in Michigan and a place in Spain over in Europe.
As you can see, through my research, there’s already a history of this site not fulling customer’s orders or able to get into contact with anyone. If this family would’ve done some simple research, they might’ve come across what I did and not be out the money that they thought they were spending on a swingset.
So now that you know how I spotted that the website is fraudulent, let’s go over some of the things that I did as well as other things to look out for when you’re shopping online.
- Check the Seller’s History: Look for consistent sales, real customer reviews, and verified purchase badges. If the seller is new or has a generic profile picture, that’s worth a pause. In this case, Select Sheds had no reviews on its review page.
- Analyze the Reviews: Fake reviews often sound very similar, use generic phrases, and show up all at once. Real review patterns are usually more spread out and specific. Tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta are super useful for this. Since there weren’t legitimate reviews I could find, I was able to go on Reddit (like I mentioned earlier) and found others who had been scammed from the site.
- Look Closely at Contact Information: A trustworthy site will have a real contact address, customer service phone number, and privacy policy. If you can’t find a business address or the phone number doesn’t work, that’s a red flag. The phone number doesn’t work and they don’t have a business address listed. Major red flags that the site is a scam
- Study Return and Refund Policies: Scam sites usually have vague or missing policies. Legit sellers clearly explain how returns or refunds work, and make it easy for you to reach support if you need help. In this case, the site does have a section for returns and exchanges. Unfortunately, what they say on it is false since no one actually received their product.
- Check the URL and Website Design: Scammers try to imitate brand names but often mess up the website address, using slight misspellings or odd extra characters. Sometimes images are low res or the design just feels off compared to big, established brands. The url of Select Sheds is legitimate and I haven’t found a site that looks similar, but the other red flags that are mentioned above are a dead give away that this is a fraudulent site.
Since I’m a bank teller and I have dealt with some customers who have been scammed from fraudulent sites before, taking these steps slows you down just enough to avoid rushing into a fake deal and would’ve helped some of the customers in these situations. If you’re unsure of a site, just copy and paste it into Google or another search engine and usually you’ll come up with more legitimate reviews of a site as well as people’s experiences on forums and other places like I was able to find on Reddit.
Easy Ways to Protect Your Money When Shopping Online
Protecting your money is about making smart choices before you click the checkout button. Here are some super important habits I stick to for every major online purchase:
- Use Protected Payment Methods: I always pay by credit card, PayPal, or another method that gives buyer protection. Avoid wiring money or using direct bank transfers for stores you don’t totally trust.
- Set up Strong Passwords and 2FA: Good passwords and two factor authentication make it way harder for account hijackers to reach your data or payment info.
- Monitor Bank Statements Frequently: Check your bank and credit card statements at least weekly for odd charges. Most banks make it easy to lock or dispute fraudulent charges quickly if you catch them early.
- Keep Device Security Updated: Running security updates on phones, laptops, and browser extensions closes loopholes that scammers love to exploit. Most operating systems will remind you to update regularly, so pay attention to those alerts.
- Don’t Save Card Info on Questionable Sites: If you’re unsure about a store’s security, don’t save your payment info or create an account with them. Instead, check out as a guest to reduce the risk.
Most security tips come down to using a little extra caution and not saving convenience over safety. That tiny bit of inconvenience is worth it for peace of mind. Also, opt for mobile payment options that mask your card info, making one less step for scammers to get your data.
I can’t reiterite enough to always check your bank statements. That way, you can catch something that doesn’t seem right. I’ve dealt with customers at my bank as well as read news stories of bigger banks where they did not check all their transactions in a timely fashion until it is too late and they discover they’ve lost large sums of money. They’ll recover some of their money, but not all of it since it wasn’t discovered in a timely fashion.
Common Challenges and Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
Even seasoned shoppers sometimes slip up. These are a few things I see tripping up people, especially during big shopping seasons or flash sales:
- Ignoring Too Good To Be True Deals: If the price seems way lower than everywhere else, it usually comes with a catch that isn’t in your favor. Believe me, I’ve fallen for that before on Facebook with a PS5 that had a price that was too good to be true. I was very lucky to get my money back in this instance,
- Getting Rushed by TimeLimited Offers: Scarcity tactics push you into buying fast. Take a breather before entering any payment info or finalizing your purchase. The theme here is time and urgency. Many kinds of scams use this tactic.
- Trusting Social Media DMs and “Giveaway” Posts: Scammers thrive on DMs that claim you’ve won something or need to follow a special link to unlock a deal. Double check the source and never enter personal information through random links.
- Overlooking Browser Security Warnings: Ignore your browser’s security warnings at your own risk. Those popups are there for a reason and can save you from loading compromised sites. This one I can’t stress enough. ALWAYS update your browser and if you have any extensions, make sure those are updated too. Just found out a software wallet for cryptocurrency suffered a massive breach where hackers stole over $7 million worth of crypto from an older extension from the Chrome browser.
Why Scams Happen More During Busy Shopping Times
Scammers ramp up activity during big sales or holiday events, taking advantage of heavy traffic and people’s urgency. More buys mean more chances for at least a few to slip through. I’m always extra careful with my online shopping around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and big release drops because scammers get really active then and set up pressure tactics.
Advanced Tips for Detecting and Avoiding Scams
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, a few extra steps can make you super resilient to scammers in 2026, no matter how clever their tactics get:
Research New or Unknown Sites: A few minutes searching for reviews, business history, or scam reports lets you spot issues before handing over payment details. Consider checking out watchdog and complaint boards for any red flags. The copyright of this site says 2025 which shows it is extremely new.
Use Temporary Virtual Cards: Some banks and fintech apps offer one time use card numbers. These are perfect for one off purchases when you’re not sure about the seller or site’s reputation. If the worst happens, your main account info stays safe. Using a credit is even better than a debit card because credit card purchases are much easier to dispute and you aren’t out of money immediately out of your bank account, unlike your debit card.
Set Transaction Alerts: Many banking apps let you set alerts for any purchase. You’ll know right away if someone’s used your info without your permission and can respond before the damage spreads. I’m able to set transaction limits on my debit card thanks to an app on my phone and alerts me to any purchases that go through my debit card. I also have the ability to freeze and unfreeze my debit card.
These extra steps add barely any time to your shopping process but help you stay two steps ahead of most online scam attempts. If you make a habit of using temporary cards and tracking your purchases, it’s much easier to spot shady transactions the moment they happen.
How Safe Shopping Looks in 2026
Safe online shopping in 2026 is all about double-checking things and not relying on what a website or seller promises at face value. I’ve found it helps to talk with friends or online communities, like Reddit’s r/scams forum, to share questionable links or check a seller’s legitimacy. Watching how friends and family shop online can reveal habits that either open up or shut down risks, giving you ideas for your own practices.
- Community Watch: Online groups often spot and flag new scams early. Checking social posts about a seller before making a purchase can be a real game-changer. The more people are talking, the more likely it is an issue has been caught and discussed.
- Using Well Known Payment Platforms: Platforms like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay offer more protection than most direct bank payments because they step in to help resolve consumer disputes.
- Bookmarking Trusted Retailers: Sticking to stores you’ve vetted or shopped at before reduces that scam risk a lot, even during busy sale periods. Make a habit of bookmarking the right URLs so you avoid copycat sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions people have about online shopping safety and scam protection in 2026:
Question: How can I check if an online store is safe?
Answer: Search for reviews on independent review sites, verify contact details, and look for secure payment options like credit cards or PayPal. Checking the business registration or any scam alerts posted online can add another layer of assurance.
Question: What should I do if I suspect I’ve been scammed?
Answer: Contact your bank to freeze the payment, report the scam to the shopping platform and the FTC (or local consumer watchdog), and save all communications for reference. Acting quickly can increase your chances of getting your money back.
Question: Are big online marketplaces safe?
Answer: Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay usually have buyer protections, but scammers can still create fake seller profiles, so it’s still worth doing your due diligence and reading seller ratings closely.
Final Thoughts
Protecting yourself from online scams heading into 2026 means staying alert, asking questions, and using smart shopping habits every time you buy. The few seconds you spend investigating a seller or website can save hours of frustration and keep your pocket safe in the long run.
Shopping online should be enjoyable, not stressful. Taking steps to protect your money helps you focus on what you really want to buy, not on worrying about scammers getting in the way. Remember, the more informed you are, the better your chances of keeping your shopping experience safe and secure.