Be wary of online ads: How to spot fake shopping sites and avoid being scammed
AP/New York
Photo: Alamy
The best way to not get scammed is to be aware of the tactics and know what to look for. Here’s some tips:
Ben Black bought what he thought was a well-priced drone online. But the drone never showed up, the site stopped responding to his emails and he never got his $100 back.
He was scammed.
“I’m pissed I got caught in it,” says Black, who lives in Westminster, Colorado.
Online shopping scams, like the one Black fell for, are on the rise as thieves take advantage of the surge of people flocking to the internet during the pandemic. They do it by creating slick-looking websites pretending to sell gadgets, toys, cleaning supplies and anything else in high demand. To lure you onto the sites, scammers pay for ads on Facebook, Google and other websites.
Tis the season to be on the lookout for online scams | Northwest
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How to spot fake shopping sites and avoid being scammed
by Joseph Pisani, The Associated Press
Posted Dec 15, 2020 4:38 pm EDT
Last Updated Dec 15, 2020 at 4:42 pm EDT
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2016 file photo, a person in Miami searches the internet for sales. Online shopping scams are on the rise as thieves look to take advantage of the increase in people shopping online during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
NEW YORK Ben Black bought what he thought was a well-priced drone online. But the drone never showed up, the site stopped responding to his emails and he never got his $100 back.