Friday, November 13, 2026 Official warnings, in plain English

Cyber Safety Today

Guides · Shopping and payments

Before you buy from a social media ad, check the seller

Social media sites do not always check the ads they show you. Here is how to look into a seller before you order, how to pay so you are better protected, and what to do if the order never comes.

Official warning dated August 10, 2026Published November 13, 2026Checked against sources November 13, 2026Written by software from the sources listed

An ad in your feed is not a sign that the seller is real. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says social media platforms do not always carefully check the ads you see or the advertisers behind them, and scammers take advantage of that.1

Anyone can buy an ad. The FTC says that includes scammers who pretend to be real brands, sell knock-off products, or push a program to teach you how to invest.1

The FTC looked at reports from 2025. Shopping scams were the scam people reported most often on social media that year. Most people said they paid for things that simply never arrived. When orders did show up, people often said the items were fakes or very different from what the ad showed.2

Step 1: Look into the seller before you order

  1. Write down the exact name of the shop or brand from the ad.1
  2. Search online for that name plus “scam” or “complaint.”1
  3. Read what other buyers say. The FTC has advice on how to judge online reviews.1
  4. Shop around and check out sellers and products before you buy.3

Step 2: Pay in a way that protects you

  1. Pay by credit card if you can. The FTC says paying by credit card best protects you and your money if it turns out to be a scam or something else goes wrong.3
  2. Never buy from an online seller that insists you can only pay with a gift card, a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app or cryptocurrency.3
  3. Keep records of your purchase, like receipts and emails, so you can hold the seller to its promises.3

Step 3: If the order never comes

  1. Contact the seller first and try to work it out.3
  2. If you paid by credit card and did not get the item, dispute the charge with your card issuer.3
  3. If you paid with a debit card, report it to your bank or credit union right away and ask for a refund. Use the number on the back of the card, or log in to your account or app.4
  4. If you paid through a payment app, report it to the app right away and ask it to reverse the payment and refund your money.4
  5. If you paid with a gift card, contact the company that issued the card right away. Use the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you and ask for your money back.4

Step 4: Report the ad

  1. If you spot a fake ad, or lose money to one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.1
  2. If the problem with an online order cannot be worked out with the seller, report it to the FTC as well.3 The FTC says a lot of people do not report scams, so real losses are likely much higher than the reports show.1

Step 5: See fewer targeted ads

Many ads you see are based on what you do online. You can review and change the privacy and advertising settings in your browser, phone and apps. The FTC explains how in How Websites and Apps Collect and Use Your Information.1