NIAGARA network
BBB Tips to Avoid Online Shopping Scams as Holidays Approach
Contributed by Caitlin Driscoll, Public Relations Director of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA
As we approach the busy holiday shopping season again, the Better Business Bureau is reminding smart shoppers to plan ahead and be on the lookout for new( and recurring) online shopping scams. These scams often take advantage of hard-to-find items and create fake websites and substandard products, offering them at“ too good to be true” prices.
According to the latest BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, online shopping scams accounted for more than 30 % of all scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2024. Shortages and rising costs could make online purchase scams even more common as desperate shoppers might turn to shady websites, hoping to find this year’ s must-have gifts.
In many online shopping scam instances reported to BBB, buyers think that they are ordering a high-quality toy. Instead, they received a cheap counterfeit version. In other reports, the products never ship and the websites vanish. In either case, when dissatisfied customers try to follow up with the company, they find that the staff either don’ t respond or refuse to provide a refund.
One shopper reported to BBB Scam Tracker that they ordered an AI panda online. The company promised an AI panda that reacts with touch, but the consumer received a small stuffed panda with a hanging string in its head and no battery or electrical components.
Another shopper reported ordering the popular Labubu toy, only to be met with disappointment. After the shopper’ s son ordered what he thought was a legitimate Labubu, they discovered it was a fake and were unsuccessful in cancelling the order,
despite multiple attempts to reach the company.
BBB offers the following tips to avoid online shopping scams and issues during the upcoming holiday season:
• Don’ t fall for deals that are too good to be true. Scammers love to draw people in with this bait. If a deal seems extraordinarily good, stay skeptical. Be careful purchasing sought-after products, especially on social media. The risk of online purchase scams rises during the holidays, and scammers often offer the most popular products for the season at low prices. Research the company thoroughly before you buy and check BBB. org.
• Only shop with reputable companies. It’ s always best to shop with companies you already know and trust. That said, if you come across an appealing item from an unfamiliar business, it’ s especially important to do research. Look up the company’ s website, physical address and contact information. Read reviews from customers on third-party websites and review comments left on their social media pages, too. You can even search the company name and the word“ scam” just to be safe.
• Ensure the website address begins with " https://". You can also check the address bar for a“ not secure” message. A trustworthy online seller will have a secure domain, keeping your information safe from hackers. Many websites will also have security certification logos visible on their page. Always click on them to verify they open an attached security policy because many scam sites will simply display these logos without an option to click through to a policy.
• Always make payments with your credit card. When shopping online, use your credit card to pay. Controlling fraudulent charges( and possibly getting your money back) will be much easier with this payment method.
• Confirm tracking. Once an order is placed and a tracking number is provided, verify the tracking through the shipping company. The link to follow the package may not be active until the retailer creates the label and physically packages the order. Once the link is live, verify it through the shipper’ s website.
• Beware of phishing. Phishing emails can look like a message from a well-known brand, but clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware and / or identity theft. One popular scam around the holidays claims to be from a package-delivery company with links to“ tracking information” on an order you don’ t remember making. Don’ t click! Instead, verify from the merchant or the actual shipping vendor.
For more helpful tips and advice, check out BBB’ s online shopping hub at BBB. org / OnlineShopping. If you spot a scam, report it to BBB. org / scamtracker. Your report can help us build consumer awareness and prevent further instances of fraud.
The Niagara Network is a group of business professionals affiliated with the human services industry. If you would like to join or find out more information about the group and its members, contact Katherine Reim at kreim @ specialolympicspa. org or 814.403.7397.
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