Consumer News: 6 websites that can actually save you money this holiday shopping season

Scammers may use fake delivery alerts, order updates and account notices to target shoppers after the deals are over

• Scammers may target shoppers after Prime Day with fake delivery alerts, order updates and account notices.

• Unexpected requests to update payment information, confirm an address or pay a fee are major red flags.

• If you click a suspicious link, act quickly by contacting your bank or changing compromised passwords.

Prime Day may be all about finding a good deal, but the shopping event doesnt necessarily end when you click place order. In fact, some of the biggest can come afterward, when shoppers are expecting updates about their purchases.

Amazon says phishing texts tend to spike after Prime Day, as scammers take advantage of shoppers waiting for deliveries, tracking orders, or dealing with refunds. And with artificial intelligence making fake messages and websites more convincing, it can be harder to tell a legitimate notification from a scam.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Tom Clayton, President and COO of family online safety company Aura, who explained shoppers should be especially cautious about unexpected delivery alerts, order confirmations, and account notices that look like the real thing.

Red flags to look out for

Clayton shared some of the biggest risks that consumers should keep their eyes peeled for during Prime Day and after the sale ends.

One thing I always tell people to look at is what the message actually wants you to do, he said. A normal delivery update is usually just that: an update. A scam is much more likely to suddenly give you a problem you need to fix, whether thats updating your address, confirming a payment or paying a small fee to get a package released.

Another clue: the sender.

Its easy to see a familiar company name and not think twice, especially when youre busy or waiting on a few different orders, but take an extra second to look at the actual email address or domain, Clayton recommended.

He explained that scammers are very good at making something look legitimate at a glance, and AI helps them mimic the polished language and familiar tone youd expect from a trusted brand.

His final red flag that should raise alarm bells for consumers: getting a message about an order you dont remember placing.

Dont click the link to figure out whats going on, Clayton said. Go directly to the retailer or shipping company instead. It takes a few extra seconds and keeps you from potentially handing information over to a scammer.

Security hygiene

While it may seem like there are risks around every corner, Clayton has some good news for shoppers: you dont need to completely change the way you shop online. However, a few basic habits can go a long way.

Here are some of his best security hygiene tips:

• Use different passwords across your accounts.

• Turn on two-factor authentication.

• Pay particular attention to your email If someone gets into your email, they may also have a way into password resets and other sensitive information.

• Turn on notifications in the retailers app, so you know where legitimate order and delivery updates should be coming from and can more easily spot a suspicious text or email.

• Use a credit card instead of a debit card, as that can give you added fraud protection.

If youre using an AI assistant to shop, the same basic rules apply, Clayton said. Pay attention to what youre giving it access to, require your approval before a purchase goes through, and limit how much personal or financial information it can access.

What to if you click a suspicious link

With AI and other advanced tools, it can be harder than ever to spot a scam in your inbox. So, if you do end up clicking a link thats not legitimate, dont beat yourself up!

However, there are some steps to take to mitigate the fallout.

Its easy to think, I only clicked the link, maybe nothing will happen, or even feel a little embarrassed that you fell for something, but thats exactly when you want to act quickly, Clayton said.

As soon as you realize something is wrong, stop engaging with the message or whoever sent it. If you shared payment information, contact your bank or card issuer directly, and if you entered a password, change it right away, especially if it was your email password.

When you contact your bank or the company, Clayton recommends searching for the number or website yourself, or use the number on the back of your card, rather than anything included in the original message. The same goes for anyone who reaches out afterward claiming to be from a fraud department or offering to help, too.

dont end when sales do

One of the biggest things that Clayton wants to get across to shoppers is that scammers dont call it quits just because a sale ends. Its especially important for consumers to stay vigilant when the big sale is over.

One thing people sometimes forget is that holiday dont stop when the big sales do, Clayton said. They can follow the entire shopping cycle, from October sales and holiday deliveries to returns, refunds, and gift cards later in the season.

The biggest thing is to slow down when something suddenly feels urgent. If a message has you worried that a package wont arrive or that someone just spent hundreds of dollars on your account, thats often exactly what the scammer wants. Take a minute and figure out what's actually happening before you act.

Worrying about higher premiums may be keeping consumers from using the coverage they already pay for

• Half of insured Americans have avoided filing a claim they could have made, often because theyre worried about higher premiums.

• Avoiding a claim doesnt always save money, with 34% of claim avoiders paying at least $1,000 out of pocket.

• Before paying out-of-pocket, consumers should consider their deductible, claims history, coverage and ability to afford the repair.

Filing an insurance claim can feel like a gamble. You may get help paying for damage, but you might also worry that your premiums will go up or that filing a claim could affect your coverage down the road.

That concern appears to be influencing how Americans handle accidents and other costly problems. LendingTree found that half of Americans with home or auto insurance have avoided filing a claim they could have made, with nearly one in four saying a potential rate increase was a major reason. And for some consumers, avoiding a claim may end up costing more than they expected.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with LendingTree insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt who explained what consumers should consider before deciding whether to file a claim.

Sure heres a brief, consumer-friendly section you can drop into the article:

Methodology and key findings

LendingTree commissioned QuestionPro to survey 2,000 U.S. consumers online from Aug. 5-9, 2026. The survey used a nonprobability-based sample, with quotas designed to help reflect the overall U.S. population. Researchers also reviewed responses for quality control.

The survey found that half of Americans with auto or home insurance have avoided filing or pursuing a claim they could have made. The biggest reasons were concerns about higher premiums (24%), costs that were below or just above the deductible (23%), and damage that seemed too minor to report (22%).

Younger consumers were particularly likely to avoid claims, with 84% of Gen Z respondents saying they had done so, compared with 63% of millennials, 40% of Gen Xers, and 27% of baby boomers.

Avoiding a claim didn't always save consumers money, either. More than a third (34%) of claim avoiders paid at least $1,000 out of pocket, including 15% who paid $2,500 or more. Meanwhile, 37% said they regretted not filing, and only 16% said avoiding the claim had no noticeable negative consequences.

Why arent consumers filing claims?

Bhatt explained that the biggest factor contributing to consumers especially younger consumers not filing insurance claims is uncertainty about the financial consequences.

In our survey, 24% of claim avoiders said they were concerned that filing would raise their premiums, Bhatt said. Others said the cost was below or only slightly above their deductible, or that the damage did not seem serious enough to report.

That concern is especially clear among younger consumers. Eighty-four percent of Gen Z policyholders said they had avoided filing or pursuing a claim they could have made. Our survey does not identify one specific reason for that gap, but it is clear that many younger consumers are weighing an immediate repair bill against the possibility of higher insurance costs later.

Should you file a claim?

If youre struggling to decide how to know when its time to file a claim, Bhatt shared a a list of some of the top factors to consider:

• The repair estimate and how much the insurer would pay after the deductible

• Whether the damage is covered and whether it could worsen if left unrepaired

• Their recent claims history and whether they have claims forgiveness

• The type of claim, particularly for auto insurance, where an accident that was not your fault may have less impact on rates than an at-fault accident

• Their financial ability to pay out of pocket without taking on costly debt or postponing other essentials

Home and auto claims work differently, Bhatt explained. Most property damage and liability claims can raise home insurance rates, and multiple home claims in a short period can make it more difficult to keep coverage. With auto insurance, the impact often depends more on the type of loss and who was at fault.

Before opening a claim, consumers can ask their insurer or agent whether the damage is covered, confirm their deductible, and ask how a claim could affect their rate. They should be clear that they are inquiring, or seeking information. This protects a policyholder from opening a claim while they are still deciding whether to use insurance or pay on their own.

Paying out of pocket vs. using your insurance

Many consumers choose to pay out-of-pocket because theyre worried about how filing a claim will impact their premium long-term. However, Bhatt says there are other factors to consider.

It really depends on the policyholders deductible, claims history, insurer, and ability to absorb the expense, Bhatt said. A good first step is to get a repair estimate and compare it with the deductible.

For example, if you have a $3,500 deductible and $5,000 in damage, insurance is only going to cover $1,500. In a situation like this, paying out of pocket may make sense if you can comfortably afford it.

However, Bhatt said if the cost would force you to take on debt, delay necessary repairs or drain your emergency savings, filing a claim may be the better financial decision.

The key is to look beyond the immediate bill, he said. Our survey found that 34% of claim avoiders paid at least $1,000 out of pocket, and 37% later regretted the decision. Delaying a repair can also allow the damage to get worse, which may create a much larger expense later.

Dont ignore home repairs

While insurance premium costs are increasing, Bhatt recommends that this shouldnt delay home repairs especially necessary ones.

Do not ignore necessary repairs simply because filing a claim feels risky, he said. Most people are trying to manage rising costs these days, but unresolved damage can lead to bigger problems, more stress, and higher expenses over time.

Bhatt also encourages policyholders to review their coverage and deductible before a loss happens. A higher deductible can lower your premium, but its only worth raising your deductible if you have enough in savings to cover it if you need to, he said. It is also worth comparing quotes periodically, especially after a significant rate increase, because pricing and eligibility can vary widely by insurer.

Policyholders should also maintain a home inventory, document damage with photos, and get repair estimates promptly. These steps make it easier to assess a loss and file a claim after a disaster or theft.

New research finds more than one in nine older cannabis users met criteria for the disorder

• About 8.9% of Americans age 65 and older reported using cannabis in the past year.

• Among those older adults, 11.4% met the criteria for cannabis use disorder.

• More frequent cannabis use was linked to a greater likelihood of developing the disorder.

Cannabis use is becoming increasingly common among Americans age 65 and older. But a new study suggests that some older adults who use cannabis may also be experiencing a pattern of use that can interfere with daily life.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and other institutions found that 11.4% of older adults who had used cannabis in the past year met the criteria for cannabis use disorder, or CUD. That's more than one in nine people in this group.

Cannabis use disorder refers to a pattern of cannabis use that causes problems or interferes with everyday life. The researchers noted that older adults may face some additional risks from cannabis because of age-related changes in the body, chronic health conditions, and the use of prescription medications.

While there is a lot of attention on how cannabis may help common chronic symptoms older adults experience or the possible acute adverse effects in this population, less focus has been on cannabis use disorder, researcher Benjamin Han, M.D. said in a news release.

It is important to recognize that any psychoactive substance, including cannabis, can lead to a harmful pattern of use, including among older adults.

How did researchers study cannabis use?

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the 2021 through 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The survey is designed to provide a nationally representative look at substance use among people living in the U.S.

The researchers focused on 21,189 adults aged 65 and older who participated in the survey. They looked at whether participants had used cannabis within the previous 12 months or 30 days, how frequently they used it and how they consumed it.

The researchers also looked for signs of CUD using 11 criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5. People who met at least two of those criteria were considered to have CUD. Researchers classified cases as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of criteria met.

Because this was an analysis of survey data collected at a point in time, the researchers described the findings as exploratory rather than proof that cannabis use caused CUD.

Most cases were mild, but frequent use stood out

Among older adults who had used cannabis during the previous year, 11.4% met the criteria for CUD. Most cases were considered mild: 76% were classified as mild, while 20.1% were moderate and 3.9% were severe.

The most common signs among people who met the criteria included spending a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from cannabis and experiencing cravings.

How often someone used cannabis also appeared to matter. Older adults who used cannabis on at least 300 days during the previous year were nearly four times as likely to meet the criteria for CUD as those who used it less frequently.

Smoking was the most common method of cannabis use, reported by 65.8% of older adults who had used cannabis in the previous year. About 40.5% reported eating or drinking cannabis products, while 15.4% reported vaping.

The researchers said the findings highlight the importance of discussing cannabis use during routine healthcare, particularly as more older adults use cannabis for medical and other health-related reasons.

Four varieties of the sports drink are affected

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• PepsiCo is recalling 122,021 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade bottles because they contain food dyes missing from their ingredient labels.

• The recall involves Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange, and Orange Zero products distributed across 37 states.

• The FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning temporary or reversible health effects are possible, while serious consequences are considered unlikely.

PepsiCo has voluntarily recalled 122,021 cases of Gatorade after certain bottles were found to contain Yellow No. 5 and/or Yellow No. 6 that were not declared on their labels, according to FDA recall information.

The company initiated the recall late last month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as Class II on October 2. The affected products are 28-ounce bottles of Gatorade Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange, and Orange Zero.

The products were distributed across 37 states, including California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. The recall applies to specified production lots of those four varieties.

The labeling omission matters because consumers who avoid particular dyes rely on ingredient lists to identify them. The FDA says allergic-type reactions to color additives are rare, but Yellow No. 5 can cause itching and hives in some people. Certified color additives must appear on product labels by their listed names or permitted shortened names, such as Yellow 6.

Class II recall

A Class II designation means a recalled product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or that the likelihood of serious health consequences is remote.

Consumers can check bottles and packaging against the FDAs recall information. Examples of affected lot codes include:

• 091126 DL

• 072226 DT

• 072426 TL

• 073126 TL

• 072926 TL

• 073026 TL

These are examples rather than the complete list; additional lots are included in the official recall.

Consumers with affected bottles should set them aside and contact PepsiCo or the retailer for instructions, particularly if they have a known sensitivity to the undeclared dyes. They should check the complete FDA enforcement report before deciding whether their products are affected.

Refund arrangements remained unclear in initial reporting.