Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Better Business Bureau warns that fake online stores are flooding social media — designed to look exactly like the retailers families trust — and back-to-school season is prime hunting ground
According to the BBB, impostor websites copy the logos, layouts and product listings of well-known brands, then buy ads on social media to lure shoppers searching for the best deals on laptops, supplies and gear. If you click and buy, the BBB said, you could end up with nothing. Or worse.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warn counterfeit products purchased from fake sites can overheat, malfunction or expose families to hazardous materials.
“It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer’s website,” the BBB said. “If the site is missing contact information, that is a red flag.”
According to the BBB, scammers build websites that are nearly identical to legitimate retailers, sometimes with URLs that differ by just one letter. They run paid ads on social media promoting deep discounts on popular items. When a shopper clicks the ad and completes a purchase, the scammer collects the payment and personal information. The product never arrives.
The <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/avoid-scams-while-shopping-online-bargains” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said scammers create fake retail sites “so similar to the sites of popular retailers, it easily tricks consumers into providing payment information.”
The threat is well-documented. In 2023, scammers built convincing lookalike websites for Bed Bath & Beyond — complete with the real company’s logo — and ran social media ads for fake “going-out-of-business” sales. Shoppers paid and received nothing, according to the BBB.
Consumer protection experts at the BBB offer these tips for safer back-to-school shopping online:
1. Don’t click on ads. Go directly to the website.If you see a social media ad for a deep discount from a retailer, don’t click the link. Instead, type the store’s official web address directly into your browser and search for the deal there. If you can’t find it, the ad was likely fake, according to the BBB’s back-to-school shopping guide.
2. Check for HTTPS and a lock icon.Before entering any payment information, look at the web address. It should begin with “https://” — not just “http://” — and display a lock icon. The BBB says that HTTPS confirms the site has a protected network connection and helps ensure you’re communicating with the website you intend to visit.
3. Pay with a credit card or a buyer-protected service .Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards. “In a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protection; it’s easier to dispute charges you didn’t approve or get your money back if there is a problem,” the BBB said.
According to the BBB and FDIC, be cautious of any online retailer that shows these warning signs:
- URLs that are off by a letter or two from a well-known retailer
- Blurry images or low-quality product photos on the site
- No contact information, privacy policy or return policy listed
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Poor grammar or misspellings anywhere on the site
If you believe you purchased from a fake website, contact your credit card company or bank immediately to dispute the charge. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and file a report with the BBB Scam Tracker to warn other consumers.
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