What is a type of fraud specifically dedicated to online shopping and e-commerce retailing?

E-commerce fraud is a specific type of fraud that targets online shopping and e-commerce retailing, involving various deceptive activities that take place over the internet. This can include schemes such as using stolen credit cards to make purchases, placing fake orders, or employing phishing tactics to steal sensitive information from consumers.

Unlike broader categories such as retail fraud or theft fraud, which can encompass various forms of dishonest activity across different retail settings, e-commerce fraud is uniquely associated with the online environment. Identity fraud, while it can occur in conjunction with e-commerce fraud—such as when a thief uses a stolen identity to make fraudulent online purchases—does not exclusively relate to the online retail context. Hence, it is specifically the unique characteristics and methods of e-commerce fraud that make it the correct choice in distinguishing this particular type of online criminal activity.