Protect yourself from scams when shopping online during the holidays

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are kicking off the holiday shopping season, which also means more opportunities for scams and frauds.

Online shopping fraud remains a problem throughout the U.S. and Canada, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with more than $240 billion in U.S. online sales expected this holiday shopping season.

Online purchase scam tactics have remained the same since the 2021 BBB study and 2022 update. Online retail fraud continues to entice shoppers with hard-to-find items and promises of low prices and easy delivery, often on social media.

In 2024, reports to BBB showed scammers continued to use social media to find targets, with the majority of reports that year originating on social media, in particular on Facebook.

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Here are some tips from the BBB that you need to know when shopping online this season.

Don’t click the ads on social media.

Social media is a hotbed of viral items, where influencers and regular users interact and talk about recent purchases, what they enjoy about them and why it might be worth it for others to make a similar purchase.

Scammers pay attention to viral products, watching for hot items and create fake listings to entice consumers. Their fake advertisements may offer items at a deep discount or promise buyers the opportunity to track down hard-to-find items. With these types of items slated for many holiday wish lists, scammers are ready to pounce.

Beware of “too good to be true” prices.

Look-alike scam websites which spoof well-known sellers and their products trick consumers, according to Christian Beckner, vice president of retail technology and cybersecurity with the National Retail Federation.

Website hosting companies attempt to take down scam websites “but it is whack-a-mole,” Beckner told the BBB. Scammers know how to target online shopping behaviors, and their fake sites are becoming more realistic.

“A few years ago, you would see some of these sites and they were so obviously fake,” he said. “It is getting harder and harder.”

Check delivery windows prior to ordering.

Buyers looking to save money look for similar but cheaper versions of popular items, which are called “dupes” (short for duplicates). While people do intentionally purchase these items at times, those looking for legitimate products need to be careful to avoid fakes.

Online purchase scam red flags

• Items offered at a deep discount.
• Deals too good to be true.
• Popular items sold by unknown retailer.
• Seller asks for payment through a payment app.
• Unprofessional web pages.
• Long shipping windows.

BBB tips to avoid online purchase scams

• Research a seller before purchasing.
• Compare item to a trusted retailers’ prices and shipping windows.
• Don’t trust a social media advertisement outright.
• Be extra alert when buying a viral item.
• Avoid sales offering multiple items for the price of one.
• Use a credit card.

Where to report

If you have been a victim of scam, report it to the company.

If there’s something you would like Atlanta News First′s Consumer Investigator Better Call Harry to look into, fill out this submission form.

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