Better Business Bureau reports online shopping scams reported in Iowa
A new report warns online scams are surging with more people shopping online during the pandemic.“At the Better Business Bureau, I’d say about 40% of the online complaints are in regards to online shopping,” Bobby Hansen with the Better Business Bureau told KCRG.Hansen says Iowa is no exception to the rise in online shopping scams. Their Scam Tracker shows online purchase complaints nearly doubled last year, and 2021 is set to see even more. “Our advice is if it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” added Hansen.He says scammers are taking advantage of the supply chain issues. Fake websites will entice shoppers with hard-to-find items, or deals on things that have seen prices rise in recent months. The Federal Trade Commission says online shopping scams are also one of the more successful types of fraud. More than 69% of cases involved someone losing money.To avoid being one of them, Hansen says be leery of big deals, especially on hard-to-find items. Hansen also says to use a credit card. Some scammers require PayPal, knowing it’s harder to get your money back.“It’s (money) much gone at that point,” said Hansen. “But a credit card, you do have some ability to recoup your loss.”Hansen also suggests shopping in person to pick out the item you like, and to avoid online scams.
A new report warns online scams are surging with more people shopping online during the pandemic.
“At the Better Business Bureau, I’d say about 40% of the online complaints are in regards to online shopping,” Bobby Hansen with the Better Business Bureau told KCRG.
Hansen says Iowa is no exception to the rise in online shopping scams. Their Scam Tracker shows online purchase complaints nearly doubled last year, and 2021 is set to see even more. “Our advice is if it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” added Hansen.
He says scammers are taking advantage of the supply chain issues. Fake websites will entice shoppers with hard-to-find items, or deals on things that have seen prices rise in recent months.
The Federal Trade Commission says online shopping scams are also one of the more successful types of fraud. More than 69% of cases involved someone losing money.
To avoid being one of them, Hansen says be leery of big deals, especially on hard-to-find items. Hansen also says to use a credit card. Some scammers require PayPal, knowing it’s harder to get your money back.
“It’s (money) much gone at that point,” said Hansen. “But a credit card, you do have some ability to recoup your loss.”
Hansen also suggests shopping in person to pick out the item you like, and to avoid online scams.
