Shop smart: Red flags to look for when avoiding holiday shopping scams By William Kirkpatrick
As the winter season begins, the bustle of holiday shopping continues to grow. While some choose to find their gifts on store shelves, many others are turning to online shopping instead. In turn, the prevalence of scams in the digital marketplace also heightens.
According to PBS News, retailers saw a 2.5 %-3.5 % increase in sales during the 2024 holidays compared to the year prior, primarily fueled by the convenience of online shopping. Clothing, electronics and jewelry saw the greatest surge.
However, the cost of convenience is a need for vigilance. The Better Business Bureau listed shopping scams as one of the top consumer risks, with the Federal Trade Commission estimating $ 392 million in losses in 2023 alone.
With the use of fake websites, underpriced goods and other shady marketing tactics, it is important to spot scams before reaching the checkout.
Red flags in online purchasing
• The site promises traditionally expensive goods for a fraction of the cost, such as electronics or jewelry.
• The website looks similar to trusted sources, but features misspellings, changes to the logo, or similar differences.
• There are no customer reviews, or customers mention not receiving the proper product.
• Advertisements for the shop are promoted through social media, especially Facebook, using buzzwords like“ Limited Time!” or“ Low Price!”
Tips for smarter shopping
• Be cautious if an item is listed for an unreasonably low price. Use other shops to see what the piece is often sold for.
• Verify the website name and link, searching for typos( such as Amazen instead of Amazon).
• Look for reviews of the product on the site, especially pictures of the listed item. • Search for the goods independently of online advertisements, instead of clicking the ad itself.
HOLIDAY 2025 17