Core Insights - The holiday season presents an increased risk for online shopping scams, as consumers are often hurried and stressed, leading to costly mistakes [2][3] Group 1: Types of Scams - Nondelivery scams involve victims paying for products online but never receiving them, often through fake online stores with significantly lower prices [4][6] - Gift card fraud is indicated when vendors only accept gift cards or prepaid cards, making it difficult to trace the recipient [7][9] - Auction fraud occurs when sellers misrepresent or fail to deliver items sold at auction, often using misleading advertisements [10][11] - Nonpayment scams involve buyers collecting goods or services from sellers and then refusing to pay, often by asking to complete transactions offline [12] Group 2: Financial Impact - Consumers reported losing nearly $800 million in 2024 due to nonpayment and nondelivery scams [13] Group 3: Prevention Tips - To avoid scams, consumers should start holiday shopping early to avoid rushing and missing red flags [15] - Vetting vendors by searching for reviews and checking their contact information and return policies is crucial [15] - Payments should be made using credit cards instead of untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency for better protection [15]