HONOLULU (KHON2) – According to the Better Business Bureau, more than $240 billion in U.S. online sales are expected this holiday season.
The BBB cautions that scammers are ready to pounce on unsuspecting shoppers by using fake advertisements and offers. The BBB’s latest shopping scam study reveals that these kinds of scams are more successful than in previous years.
BBB’s Cameron Nakashima told KHON2.com that the study measured online shopping scams from the beginning of the year through June and found that more than 19,300 online shopping scams were reported to BBB this year.
That’s a higher number than in 2021 or 2022 but it’s lower than what we saw in 2023, but again, the numbers reported this year were only through June, so it is likely by end of year the number will be higher.
“More concerning is that we also see an increase in the likelihood that a person will lose money to a scam. This year we measured a record-setting susceptibility rating of 87%. Looking locally, Hawaii residents reported nearly 100 online shopping scams so far this year, accounting for over $40,000 in losses.”
Nakashima said not all online shopping scams look the same, but here are a few red flags to watch out for to help you more successfully spot and avoid them:
· Popular items sold by unknown retailer or an unprofessional website for a “known brand” could be an impostor
· Items offered at a deep discount might be too good to be true
· Seller asks for payment through a payment app
Nakashima suggests not trusting a social media advertisement outright, be extra alert when buying a viral item and research a seller before purchasing.