On November 25, 2025 the FTC published consumer guidance warning buyers about fake shopping sites, social‑media marketplace scams, and phishing, and advised using traceable payment methods while verifying sellers. The guidance also provides step‑by‑step recovery resources for identity‑theft victims and directs consumers to report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission released updated holiday‑season consumer alerts on November 25, 2025 that combine shopping‑fraud prevention tips with identity‑theft recovery guidance. The FTC warns shoppers to watch for too‑good‑to‑be‑true prices, solicitation to pay via non‑reversible methods (gift cards, crypto, wire transfer), and unsolicited contact that asks for personal identifying information or payment. Practical steps recommended include verifying seller credentials, using credit cards or other traceable payment methods that offer dispute protections, examining website security and return policies, and checking reviews and domain registration data before purchasing. Importantly, the guidance outlines recovery steps for identity‑theft victims—placing fraud alerts or credit freezes, reporting identity theft to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, contacting financial institutions, and keeping records of correspondence. The FTC emphasizes early reporting to improve prospects for remediation and outlines resources for restoring identity and credit. The agency also encourages consumers to use its centralized reporting portal to help the FTC and other agencies detect trends and coordinate enforcement actions during the high‑volume holiday period.