BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust and Walmart® have partnered to highlight things you can do to shop safely and avoid scams during this holiday season. According to BBB research, knowing about scams and scammer tactics can help you keep your money and/or personal information safe if you are targeted.

Here are four things to consider when shopping online:

Be wary of unfamiliar sellers

If you are interested in buying from a new seller or website, take time to do research before you buy. Scammers can lure you in with too-good-to-be-true offers that take your money and leave you empty-handed.

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Don't let "porch pirates"
steal your holiday joy

Millions of packages are stolen every year. Take steps to protect your deliveries.

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Remember: gift cards are for gifts,
NOT for unsolicited payments

Gift cards can be the perfect holiday present for your friends or loved ones, but they can also be a red flag for fraud. Scammers ask people to pay them with gift cards because it’s a convenient way to steal money and difficult to trace or recover. Legitimate organizations will NEVER require you to pay them with a gift card.

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Protect yourself on social media

Scams perpetrated via social media rose 63% in 2023. Be cautious of ads pitching hard-to-beat prices, or online friends offering great deals. Always research the seller and only shop from their official website or app.

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Awareness of tactics is a strong defense against scammers. Below are the resources that can help you spot a con.

Learn how to protect yourself and avoid scams

BBB resources

General tips:
10 General Scam Tips
How to Spot a Scam
Tips for a great holiday season

Untrustworthy/fake websites:
How to identify a fake website
"Brushing" scam indicates serious problem for victims

Porch pirates: 
6 steps to avoid package theft

Social media:
Social media scams
How scammers use social media platforms
Think twice before buying from these social media ads

Gift cards:
Gift card scams
Don't get scammed out of a gift card

 

Walmart® resources

Sign up for BBB Scam Alerts  

safe online holiday shopping guide front page

Download our "Safe online holiday shopping" guide

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