MINNEAPOLIS — The holiday shopping season is in full swing and this year a growing number of shoppers are choosing to shop online.
Adobe Analytics is forecasting that Americans will spend around $11.6 billion on Cyber Monday alone — that’s an 8.5% increase over last year.
Experts say for scammers, that's like shooting fish in a barrel, as the saying goes, there are just so many easy targets.
That’s why fraud experts are encouraging shoppers to think twice before clicking on that hot deal online.
"We have to stay savvy and stay alert that we cannot let our guards down,” Minnesota Better Business Bureau spokesperson Bao Vang says.
Vang says online shopping scams are especially concerning this year due to the current economic climate.
With high prices and high inflation, shoppers are more motivated than ever to find a good deal.
Consumer experts say those deals can often cause a shopper to ignore the clear warning signs that a deal may actually be a scam.
“Many of us are scrambling to find that hot item or that hot toy of the season and we’re all wanting it to be at a deal of the century,” Vang says.
The BBB and AARP are teaming up this Thursday for the 2022 Twin Cities Scam Jam.
The half-day event will feature training and professional speakers who will teach seniors and their caregivers how to protect themselves online.
University of Minnesota professor Marti DeLiema is speaking at the event.
She tracks fraud and scams and says it's not just seniors who fall victim.
"In fact, when they do national prevalence surveys about who is being affected by fraud the most, it's middle-aged people who have the highest rate of self-reported victimization,” professor DeLiema says.
DeLiema says you should always check the website address before you buy.
It should start with HTTPS. That "S" stands for secure and means your information will be more protected.
Also, look for spelling errors to make sure you're actually on that company's website.
Scammers will often create fake sites to trick people.
Scammers have been known to make up entire companies to fool people, so if you come across a company you don't know, do your research.
"Just be really, really vigilant and get a second opinion,” DeLiema says.
Another good tip is to be skeptical of ads you see on social media.
Experts say we're often leery of ads we get through email, but a lot of people assume the ads on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are legit, but experts say those can be faked, too.
For more information on the Twin Cities Scam Jam and how to register for the event, click here.
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