Big box stores often roll out their summer sales during July, and online scammers take advantage of the trend to defraud shoppers.
“Some of the things that we get reports to BBB Scam Tracker are individuals that have bought things online – typically off of social media ads – and the item doesn’t show – or if they thought they were buying Gucci, they’re not getting Gucci,” said Timothy Johnston with the Better Business Bureau.
He said that it’s important for customers to research the business before they click ‘buy.’
“(Check) out the customer reviews of the product,” he said. “Make sure you also check the reviews of the business itself. Make sure you check them out at bbb.org. See what information we have. Find out if they are BBB accredited and see what the track record is.”
Shoppers should double check that the URL begins with the letters ‘https,’ Johnston added. The ‘s’ indicates a secure connection, and is often pictured next to a lock symbol.
For deals that customers come across through email or text, “Pay attention to the email addresses they’re coming from. Don’t click on links within emails or texts. Don’t call those numbers,” Johnston said.
Instead, shoppers should visit the business’s website directly to find contact information, or log into their account to get shipping updates.
For those who do fall victim to scams, Johnston added, the BBB has launched a toolkit with information on what steps to take to protect sensitive information.
