This week, we kicked off our 2024 Sumer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals edition with a warning about online sales scams.
It is common for online retailers to offer special deals and discounts during the summer months.
This can create a flood of online traffic and wherever money is being spent, scammers are usually there for a piece of the action.
They impersonate major brands by setting up imposter websites to trick people into sharing sensitive information. Scammers also send phishing messages containing malware, and once a target clicks the link, their information is compromised.
We created a resource to help people avoid summer shopping schemes—called Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons.
In it, you will find the following tips:
- Ensure the website is legitimate and not a spoofed “look-alike;”
- Never click on links in solicitations;
- Know that if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is;
- Pay with credit cards that offer additional consumer protection; and
- Avoid buying from sellers who request payment from a third-party source.
To learn more about Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons, click here. To access Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons in Spanish, click here.
You can report online shopping scams or other fraudulent activity at 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.
By staying vigilant, you can take advantage of summer sales securely and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.
Ashley Moody is attorney general of Florida.
