BBB: Scammers target Mother’s Day shoppers

For Mother’s Day, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to be vigilant against scams.

With spending on par with Christmas, scammers see this holiday as a lucrative opportunity. Whether you’re buying flowers, jewelry, or gift cards, the BBB urges you to shop wisely.

According to the National Retail Federation, more than $34 billion will be spent on Mother’s Day this year, with celebrants planning to spend on average $259, slightly more than last year.

“We must be our first line of defense to protect ourselves while shopping for that perfect gift,” says Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “This is especially true when shopping online. Be very wary of fake websites and social media ads. Scammers are out to steal your identity or sell you poor-quality products.”

Consumers should be cautious of fraudulent online flower shops, jewelry stores, fake gift cards, and Mother’s Day e-cards. The BBB has tips when selecting Mother’s Day gifts in-store or online:

• Verify the legitimacy of online retailers before making a purchase.

• Use secure payment methods and avoid wire transfers or prepaid debit cards.

• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.

• Check reviews and ratings of the seller.

• Look for contact information and return policies on the website.

Follow these BBB guidelines to help reduce your risk of scams:

• Do your homework. Before ordering flowers, jewelry or any other gifts for Mother’s Day, check out the company’s BBB profile at bbb.org. This is a great way to help prevent disappointment with the product or customer service. Shopping online — use websites/retailers that you know.

• Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen. When you visit a company’s website, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by an identity thief could appear with blanks for you to provide your personal information. Legitimate companies don’t ask for personal information via pop-up screens. Install pop-up blocking software to avoid this type of scam.

• Keep documentation of your order. When you’ve completed the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page and/or you might receive confirmation by email. Print or save that information and keep it handy in case you need it later.

• Have a backup plan. Make sure you understand the store’s guarantee. Find out how customer complaints are handled and what recourse you will have if the arrangement is not satisfactory. It’s best to use a credit card when ordering online, because you can dispute charges if the vendor doesn’t come through.

• Make sure the business has your information. When it comes to flower delivery, there are times when delivery instructions need to be confirmed or a delivery driver needs additional directions. Give the florist a callback phone number to help them make sure your mom gets the gift you ordered.

If you've encountered a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Sign up for BBB’s free consumer newsletter, BBB Edge, at BBB.org/ChicagoBuzz. Visit BBB.org or follow us @ChicagoBBB on social media. Look for the BBB seal, The Sign of a Better Business.