How to avoid a scam while shopping online this holiday season
Nov 14, 2024, 1:00 PM | Updated: 1:06 pm
A hand holds a credit card next to a silver laptop. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — As you begin your holiday shopping, be ready to take some extra time and check the reviews. There’s a new scam running through the country.
Melani Fox with the Better Business Bureau said the holiday scam they’re seeing this year is decorations that are nothing like what people saw online. Instead, they receive poorly made, mini versions of the item.
Sometimes, items don’t even arrive.
“We’ve received a few reports about people shopping online for holiday gifts or holiday decor, and sometimes nothing comes in at all,” she said. “At that point, they may not be able to get in contact with the business anymore … They just lost their money.”
Fox said there are a couple of things shoppers can do to protect themselves.
Number one, always check the product reviews and only shop with a credit card.
“We always recommend just using a credit card if you are not 100% sure that it’s a safe source online,” she said. “If you use a credit card, you can refute [the charge] with your bank.”
Fox also advised that consumers check the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker before sending payment for an online order.
“We have the scam tracker tool kit,” she said. “That gives personalized advice if someone wants a little bit more help … [and they want to know what] steps to take after that.”
Don Brinkerhoff is a reporter and producer for KSL NewsRadio.
