Keep a lookout for scams as holiday shopping is about to get underway
(WHTM) — With Halloween now in the rearview mirror, it's time to start that holiday shopping, but watch out for online scams that like the Grinch could steal your Christmas.
When Bed Nath and Beyond and sister store Buy Buy Baby announced their closing last year, shoppers flocked to their liquidation sales. But some, like Sydney Joyave, stumbled upon fake clearance websites in social media ads.
"One of my friends sent me a link to a going-out-of-business, Buy Buy Baby website and it was really exciting," Joyave said, adding that the site she was shopping offered up to 90% off.
But when she placed an order her card was charged but the site disappeared.
Another to watch for: fake tool kits.
The website ToolGuyd warns every Christmas about scams involving Milwaukee and Dewalt tools such as tool kits and storage chests for well under $100. In real life, their power tools start at over 100 bucks and go well up from there.
Fake retail sites — with super low prices on gifts– are one of the top holiday scams according to the BBB.
"We see a lot of issues when it comes to fake websites," Cinthya Lavin of the BBB said. "Really anyone can advertise on social media now. Because you see it on social media, doesn't mean that it's legitimate."
But there is another big scam to watch for in November and it involves your phone.
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With online shopping season now in full gear it's important to know the warning signs of a text scam.
Eric Schwartz was recently targeted by a fake delivery message.
"Your package arrived at the warehouse but could not be delivered due to incomplete address information," he said the text read.
Other text scams claim your credit card is about to be charged several hundred dollars for something you didn't order. They are all looking for your credit card number or more.
The BBB says keep track of what you order don't respond to unexpected texts and if the price seems too low even for Black Friday it may be a scam.
So be suspicious of social media ads for super low-priced holiday gifts, make sure you are dealing with a legitimate company so you don't waste your money.
