It’s that time of year again, Cyber Monday is almost here, when the best deals are just a click away. But before you jump on any enticing offers, it’s important to remember scammers are lurking, waiting for their perfect moment to strike.
“If a price sounds too good to be true it probably is especially on hard to find items,” said Michele Mason, President & CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).Â
Mason says right now is when scammers are working overtime pretending to be reliable retailers hoping you won’t notice the difference.
“Keep all these things in mind as you’re shopping, and make sure you are taking the time to check out those companies carefully before you make that final transaction,” said Mason.
Mason’s first piece of advice is to take a moment to check the validity of all websites you visit. Don’t shop on websites with strange URL’s, and you can even look up reviews from other shoppers to see how their experience was.
“Make sure you keep your antivirus software up-to-date because it takes just one wrong site visit to actually wreak havoc on your computer, or there could be spyware or malware on that site,” said Mason.
Mason says if you receive any texts or emails offering deals, do not click on any links until you know it’s from a trustworthy sender.
“At the same time, now is a great time to be signing up for deals to make sure trusted brands are sending you deals that you are interested in,” said Mason.
You can use the BBB’s website to see if companies have the BBB’s seal and accreditation.
“And make sure you are making your list, checking it twice, to make sure you’re not letting deals take you too far off your budget,” said Mason.
Mason explained scammers know gift cards are common purchases right now. So if a website is asking for private information or claiming they can check your balance, this could be a sign of a scam.
“It could just be a bogus site that’s having you give them your card number and pin so they can take those funds and suddenly you’ll have zero funds on that card,” said Mason.
To recap, verify any website you’re shopping on, don’t click on links in emails or texts, and check with the BBB before spending your hard earned holiday cash.
“Just because someone sounds like they’re offering a great service may not be the truth and it could be a scammer that’s just trying to get you to give out your information. Be very, very careful about those,” said Mason.Â