Black Friday Online Shopping Scams Hit CA, Nation: FBI Issues Safety Tips

The long Thanksgiving weekend traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season, and for those who like to get online deals, beware of scammers waiting to take your money. The same goes for honest online sellers who work hard during the busy holiday season.

"Every year, thousands of people become victims of holiday scams. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood," the FBI warns.

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2024 report, online scams cost people more than $785 million that year. Credit card fraud accounted for another $199 million in losses. These crimes hit shoppers and sellers alike.

Scams include:

• non-delivery scams, where customers pay for goods or services found online, but they never receive their items.
• non-payment scams, where online small businesses ship purchased goods or services but never receive payment.
• auction fraud, where purchased products are misrepresented on auction sites.
• gift card fraud, where a seller asks customers to pay with a prepaid card.

"When shopping online during the holiday season — or any time of year — always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true," the FBI advises.

Whether you’re an online buyer or a seller, the FBI offers a number of ways to protect yourself this holiday season and beyond:

1. Practice good cybersecurity hygiene —

• Don't click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media. Phishing scams and similar crimes trick you into clicking links and into giving up personal information like your name, password, and bank account number. In some cases, you may unknowingly download malware to your device.
• Be especially wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information. Look up the company’s phone number and call them yourself.

2. Know who you're buying from or selling to —

• Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. A site you’re buying from should have https in the web address. If it doesn’t, don’t enter your information on that site.
• If you’re purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and check reviews.
• Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller before moving forward with a purchase. If you’re using an online marketplace or auction website, check their feedback rating. Be wary of buyers and sellers with mostly unfavorable feedback ratings or no ratings at all.
• Avoid sellers who act as authorized dealers or factory representatives for popular items in countries where such deals do not exist.
• Be wary of sellers who post an auction or advertisement as if they reside in the U.S. but then respond to questions by stating they are out of the country on business, family emergency, or similar reasons.
• Avoid buyers who request their purchase be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country.

3. Be careful how you pay —

• Never wire money directly to a seller.
• Don't pay for items with prepaid gift cards. In these scams, a seller will ask you to send them a gift card number and PIN. Instead of using that gift card for your payment, the scammer will steal the funds, and you’ll never receive your item.
• Use a credit card when shopping online and check your statement regularly. If you see a suspicious transaction, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge.

4. Monitor the shipping process —

• Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online so you can confirm they have been shipped and you can track the delivery.
• For online sellers, be wary of any credit card purchases where the cardholder's address does not match the shipping address. Always receive the cardholder’s authorization before shipping any products.

Report holiday scams to ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you've been scammed, you should also contact your credit card company or your bank to dispute any suspicious charges.