Straight Talk: Watch for common online shopping scams

Be cautious while shopping online. It’s easy to fall victim to phishing scams, misleading advertisements, and lookalike websites. Make sure you know the signs to watch out for.

BBB tips for online shopping

? Research the seller or retailer. Before you buy, check customer reviews of the product(s) you are interested in purchasing and do some research on the retailer. Be sure you can find contact information for the seller and make note of it. Look up the retailer on BBB.org to see if they are BBB Accredited and check out their profile to read customer reviews.

? Watch for email and text phishing attempts that appear to come from a popular retailer. These messages may claim you have a gift waiting for you, or that there is a problem with delivery. Know what you have opted into before you click.

? Watch out for social media ads. You may come across ads that, at first glance, appear to belong to a trusted retailer. Trust your gut when evaluating deals. If a company claims to sell the hottest item of the year at a super low price, it’s probably untrue.

? Beware of lookalike websites. Look closely at the URL; you may notice that the domain name is slightly different (i.e., Instead of Popularstore.com, the URL might be PopvlarStore.com or PopularStoreOnline.com). Ensure websites use the correct business name spelling and have legitimate contact information and customer service numbers. Also look for bad grammar, research the age of the domain, and read online reviews.

? Professional photos do not mean it is a real offer. Photos can be stolen from other websites, so don’t believe everything you see. If logos or other images on the website appear blurry, take that as a red flag for a scam.

? Make sure the website is secure. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Never enter payment or personal information into a website with only “HTTP.” It is NOT secure.

? Be careful when purchasing sought-after products. If something is sold out everywhere, do not be tempted by a seemingly great deal. Scammers often trick shoppers by offering the most popular products at low prices.

? Pay with a credit card. If any shady charges pop up, you can contest them through your credit card company. Be very wary of any retailer that asks you to pay by digital wallet apps, prepaid money cards, or other non-traditional payment methods. These are red flags for scams.

FOR MORE INFORMATION – Visit BBB's online shopping HQ for more tips at BBB.org/OnlineShopping. If you have spotted an online scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker.

FOR BBB INFORMATION – Visit BBB.org or call us at 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, find our events, follow us on social media, and more!

This article originally appeared on The Repository: BBB warns shoppers about online shopping fraud