BBB: Scammers are Primed for busiest shopping quarter
Shoppers must stay on high alert for fake websites, scam emails and phony social media ads while shopping online during major promotional sales like Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Better Business Bureau says online shopping scams are #1 in the Top 10 local scams of the year.
Fraudsters hope to jump on the special sale bandwagon with tricks to empty your bank account and steal your identity. With prices skyrocketing at every turn, this year is especially risky.
“Con artists will exploit the rush of shoppers eager to save money,” says Steve Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “Scammers will create impostor Amazon websites set to go live on Oct. 6, hoping busy online shoppers will not notice. Be on the lookout for unsolicited texts and emails claiming to be from Amazon, asking for personal information.”
More than 203 million people have an Amazon Prime Membership. Scammers see Amazon Prime Big Deal Days as an opportunity to steal consumers’ money, credit card information, and identities.
“The counterfeit websites, at first glance, appear to belong to a trusted retailer. But looking more closely at the URL, you’ll notice that the domain name is slightly different,” Bernas said. “There might be a hyphen instead of a period. A few letters could be added to the domain name. Make certain that any websites you order from are the correct website. They should have the correct business name spelling and have legitimate contact information and customer service numbers. Use common sense when evaluating deals. If a company claims to be selling the hottest item of the year at a super low price, it’s probably a con.”
Beware of scammers who claim to be from Amazon, a retail store, your bank, or your credit card issuer, telling you that your card was compromised and suggesting actions to “fix” the problem. Phishing emails may attempt to trick you into providing your credit card information or ask you to click on a link or open an attachment, which can download malware onto your computer.
Make sure the website is secure. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Never enter payment or personal information into a website with only “HTTP.” It is NOT secure.
Beware of fake websites: Check the URL, watch for bad grammar, research the age of the domain, search for contact information, and read online reviews. If something is sold out everywhere, don’t be tempted by a website that claims to have lots of the product at a seemingly great deal.
Professional-looking photos do not mean it’s a genuine offer. Scammers often steal photos from other websites, so don’t believe everything that you see.
Pay with a credit card. If any unusual charges turn up later, you will be able to contest them through your credit card company. Avoid any retailer that asks you to pay by digital wallet apps, prepaid money cards, or other non-traditional payment methods. Be suspicious of notices about Delivery problems.
Check out companies at BBB.org to see ratings and reviews. Look for the BBB seal, The Sign of a Better Business.
If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to BBB ScamTracker to help alert people. Sign up for BBB’s free consumer newsletter, BBB Edge, at BBB.org/ChicagoBuzz.