RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Online purchase scams have skyrocketed during the pandemic with social media ads playing a key role in the ongoing problem, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Online shopping scams have become one of the most profitable areas for criminals because they know that increased numbers of people are buying goods online.
It’s estimated 91 percent of the country’s population will be shopping online by the start of 2023- that’s about 300-million people.
A report by the BBB entitled “Theft On A Massive Scale” says losses from online shopping scams are huge.
In 2021, the BBB says reported losses from online shopping scams totaled $8.4 Million. It could be much greater because many people do not report online shopping fraud.
One way criminals obtain that money is by creating fake shopping platforms.
“There’s an infinite amount of shopping platforms out there and not all are safe and secure websites,” said Alyssa Parker of the BBB Eastern North Carolina.
The best way to make sure the website is legit is to look for the lock icon and the “S” at end of HTTP in the URL address to verify it’s a secure website.
Another way criminals can hurt you is by posting so-called “shell websites.”
“The website may be created by a scammer who sells a particular product but they’re not selling it, they’re trying to get your information,” said Parker.
Scammers often create and shut down websites very…
