With the holiday season approaching, the Boston Police Department is warning shoppers to be cautious of online shopping scams.
Online Shopping Scams on the Rise This Holiday Season
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning shoppers to be cautious of a growing number of online shopping scams during the holiday season. Scammers are creating fake websites and social media ads that appear to offer expensive or high-demand products at unbelievably low prices to lure in victims.
These fraudulent sites often steal photos, branding, and logos from legitimate businesses to appear authentic. Once shoppers make a purchase, scammers may steal personal or financial information, such as credit card details, or send counterfeit or low-quality products instead of what was advertised.
The BBB urges consumers to verify the legitimacy of websites before making purchases and to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
Resources & Reporting: If you have paid scammers, there are some actions you can take to protect yourself from further issues and potentially get
money back. Follow the steps below on “What to Do if You were Scammed”
- Victims are encouraged to file a police report with their local area station. Please follow the link (here) to find your local Boston area station.
- If the scammers obtained your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov
- For additional reporting victims can also file with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).