On Cyber Monday, the Better Business Bureau is warning online shopping fraud has become “one of the top scams” the organization is following. BBB says online shopping scams have cost people $380 million so far in 2022.
In 2021, BBB says online shopping fraud reached an all-time high. The organization says the number of reports has dropped this year, but the total amount of losses has increased.
“We created those online shopping habits, and they’re here to stay,” says the Better Business Bureau’s Monica Horton. “It’s easy and convenient for consumers to shop online. We just want to make sure they’re aware fraud is out there.”
Horton says some of the most popular items for Christmas gifts are also some of the most likely items that lead to scams.
“We have seen puppies as number one. Number two is electronics,” she says.
Horton says people running fake businesses are now buying more advertising on social media sites, so she warns people against clicking on an ad while scrolling through a timeline absentmindedly.
“They look credible at first,” she says. “They will have stolen logos, pictures and that sort of thing, but you really need to scrutinize that website before you plug in your payment information.”
She says people should research a website before buying something from an ad on social media.
In some cases, Horton says phony websites will ask people to pay using a cash app like Venmo or Zelle instead of a credit card.
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