5 tips to avoid online shopping scams

The recent nationwide baby formula shortage has led government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to warn people of online scams and price gouging.

Online scams maintained their top spot as the riskiest scams for consumers in 2021, making up about 37% of all scams reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker. Nearly 75% of people who reported online scams also said they lost money. 

VERIFY viewers often ask us about whether a product advertised online is a scam – like this Facebook ad that falsely claimed actress and “Jeopardy!” co-host Mayim Bialik endorsed CBD gummies. 

We compiled five key tips to help you avoid online shopping scams. 

1. Research unfamiliar brands or websites: 

If you’re buying from an unfamiliar company or brand, do your research first. The FTC and AARP recommend searching for the company’s name in a search engine like Google using words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint” to see what other people are saying. If…