Back-to-school season means shopping, whether your children learn at home or head to school in person.
Online shopping brings convenience to tackle the school supply list, with many brick-and-mortar businesses improving their efforts in the digital space to accommodate.
Ads for great back to school deals are everywhere online, tempting parents with great discounts and free shipping offers. The Better Business Bureau® in Western Michigan is seeing an increase in online purchase scams across the state, particularly regarding social media ads.
Online purchase scams were the riskiest scam type for the third year in a row, according to the 2022 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report.
Before you hit the checkout button, consider the following tips to make sure supplies arrive on time without losing big bucks.
- Shop with familiar retailers. Some of the best deals are only available online, but be careful. It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer’s website, so make sure you shop with a legitimate site. Especially when shopping for expensive tech like laptops and tablets. If the site is missing contact information, that is a red flag. Check out retailers at BBB.org before you shop.
- Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “HTTPS://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page.
- Be a savvy shopper. When shopping online, take your time and read the fine print before submitting your order. Look for the return policy; although many online orders can be returned for a full refund, others have restocking fees. Some items cannot be returned; know before you buy.
- Approach low prices with caution. Low prices and short-term sales could signal you’ve encountered a scam. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Think before you click. Be especially cautious about ads on social media sites. Many sketchy retailers advertise great deals or trendy clothing that doesn’t match the promotional hype.
- Beware of phishing. Phishing emails can look like a message from a well-known brand, but clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware and/or identity theft. One popular scam claims to be from a package-delivery company with links to “tracking information” on an order you don’t remember making. Don’t click!
- Shop with a credit card. In a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protection; it’s easier to dispute charges you didn’t approve or get your money back if there is a problem. Debit cards, prepaid cards, or gift cards don’t have the same protections as credit cards.
