Online shopping is fast and convenient, helping you find deals all year-round. But it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. During Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holidays, fraud attempts spike dramatically. In 2024, the Better Business Bureau found that online shopping scams made up 30% of all reported fraud.
What makes these scams so effective? They exploit basic shopping behaviors. You’re comparing prices across multiple tabs, juggling discount codes, expecting package deliveries and making quick decisions to snag deals before they expire. That’s when you’re most vulnerable.
Common Online Shopping Scams
Scammers use countdown timers, low stock warnings and urgent “act now” messages to rush you into sharing your information. Legitimate retailers use these tactics too, which is exactly why scammers’ fakes work so well. And fraudsters also use AI to create personalized schemes that look more convincing than ever.
Stay alert to these common scams:
Fake delivery notifications show up as texts saying your package needs “urgent attention” or claiming you owe extra fees. A shopper receives what looks like a legitimate shipping alert. He enters his card details and within minutes, fraudsters add his card to a mobile payment app. Scammers load these phony delivery texts with tracking numbers and official language to make them look real.
Too-good-to-be-true deals promise the latest tech or designer goods at prices that are too good to be true. You buy, get a confirmation email, then nothing. Weeks go by. Customer service emails bounce. Maybe a knockoff eventually shows up, or nothing arrives at all. Either way, the site vanishes along with your money.
Lookalike websites are copycats with the same logo, same product photos and sometimes even the same layout as well-known brand websites. Scammers pay for ads to show up at the top of search results, so you click, thinking it’s the real store.
Fake coupons on social media promise deep discounts if you share a post or click a link. They spread fast because people want to help friends save money. But those links steal your data or infect your device with malicious software that tracks what you type and sends it to scammers.
These scams work because fraudsters know how to blend in.
How To Protect Yourself
Speed might land you a deal, but caution keeps your money secure. While AI can help scammers generate realistic language without telltale spelling errors and awkward phrasing, you can still avoid these scams if you:
- Verify it for yourself. Type the retailer or shipping carrier web address into your browser instead of clicking links to shop, check orders or confirm deliveries. When you click links in texts or emails, you could land straight on a scammer’s website.
- Research unfamiliar sellers. If a store’s name is new to you, look up the business profile and read customer reviews before paying. Check complaints and ratings to see if other shoppers had problems.
- Update your security software. Make sure antivirus programs are current before you start shopping online. This can protect you from scam websites and phishing attempts.
- Ask, “Why am I being rushed?” Scammers want you to take action now without thinking. A few extra minutes now could prevent weeks of dealing with fraudulent charges on your account or identity theft issues.
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
If you’ve fallen for an online shopping scam, call your bank, credit union or credit card company immediately to report fraudulent charges and freeze accounts if necessary. Change passwords for any accounts that used the same login credentials. This stops scammers from accessing your other accounts.
Document everything. Be sure to save screenshots of the website, confirmation emails and any communication with the seller. This evidence helps your financial institution investigate and increases the chances of recovering your money.
You can also file a report using the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker tool so others can avoid the same trap.
Visit our fraud section to learn more about the tactics scammers use to mislead you. Whether it’s Black Friday or an ordinary weekday, stay vigilant to keep your money safe from scammers.