Online shopping scams have cost victims nearly $380M in 2022. How to avoid losing money

Dennis Horton
·3 min read

It’s holiday shopping season and many consumers will be searching online and social media for the perfect gifts. While shopping online is easy and convenient, the Better Business Bureau warns online shoppers searching for gifts and other merchandise to do their research, be mindful of social media scrolling, and use credit cards to avoid scammers.

Online shopping scam reports to BBB Scam Tracker remain just under all-time highs reached in 2021 with losses approaching $380 million. According to an October 2022 BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust report, scams being perpetrated online have risen 87% since BBB Scam Tracker launched in 2015.

A vast majority of consumers lost money, making online shopping fraud one of the most dangerous and successful, according to the BBB Institute’s research. In many cases reported to our Scam Tracker, the scammers entice shoppers with hard-to-find items, low prices, and fast delivery. Nearly 36% of all online retail fraud reports to BBB Scam Tracker originated through a fake website. Scammers used social media and email to initiate about 40% of reported scams.

Fraudsters found the shift to online shopping to be lucrative and convenient, molding their efforts into various forms meant to trick shoppers. Items consumers receive may be completely different or worthless when compared to those advertised. In many cases, fake pop-up websites just collect money from victims and never deliver anything.

In 2022, online retail scams remain one of the most reported frauds to the BBB as well as the Federal Trade Commission and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Complaints filed with the BBB on the types of businesses that comprise online shopping were 16% lower in 2021 after a record of 115,159 in 2020. But complaints appear to be on pace this year to equal or exceed 2021 complaints. Scammers target three key moments in the shopping process, according to BBB Scam Tracker:

  • Before the purchase, consumers may encounter advertisements for scams on social media.

  • While shopping, shoppers may be enticed by artificially low prices or fake websites.

  • After the purchase, fraudsters send fake tracking information and request more money for safe delivery.

These scams have three top warning signs in common:

  • Prices that are too good to be true.

  • Websites that look legitimate, but credibility falls apart after a closer look.

  • Credit card payment “failures” lead the seller (scammer) to ask for payment over peer-to-peer payment apps or with gift cards.

Fraudsters use a variety of methods to collect money, including credit cards, money transfer services (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal) and gift cards. PayPal is the only cash-sharing app that offers some protections for consumers, though reports to BBB show mixed success in obtaining refunds. BBB recommends consumers pay with a credit card when possible, as those companies have strong procedures in place for disputing fraudulent transactions.

Prosecuting scammers remains difficult, but in March 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice extradited and arrested two men from Lithuania for their alleged roles in a $3.5 million online vehicle sale scam. BBB urges more law enforcement action against online scams and additional protection for consumers using cash sharing apps.

BBB recommendations for researching online retail sellers:

  • Check BBB.org for BBB Business Profiles and consumer reviews.

  • Search for online reviews.

  • Review the website’s URL for misspellings or other errors.

  • Examine the URL with Google Transparency Report tool.

  • Use a map app to verify the business’s address.

  • Make sure you can pay by credit card, which offers the most protection against loss.

  • Treat a social media or email ad with suspicion until you have investigated the company behind it. Who to contact if you are the victim of an online purchase scam:

    • Better Business Bureau – BBB Scam Tracker to report a scam online.

    • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – reportfraud.ftc.gov to file a complaint online or call 877-FTC-Help.

    • Your credit card issuer – report the incident if you shared your credit card number, even if the transaction was not completed. Monitor your statements and if you suspect fraud, ask for a chargeback. It isn’t guaranteed, but many credit card companies will grant one.

Dennis Horton is director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau, which serves Winnebago, Boone and Stephenson counties among others in northern Illinois.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Online shopping scams fraud credit card better business bureau bbb