As you scroll through social media, be cautious of misleading ads and fake websites designed to steal your money.
The Better Business Bureau warns that during the holidays, it’s easy to click a link thinking it leads to a reputable store, but it may take you to a fraudulent site.
It can happen year-round, but there are more fake sites during the holidays.
In July, News 6 told you about Daren Mass, who thought he was buying a Gibson, Les Paul guitar from Guitar Center but lost $1,200 after paying for a guitar he never received.
[BELOW: Fake ads and websites scam shoppers out of thousands of dollars]
“As soon as I saw that, I realized I had been had,” Mass said.
The BBB also advises being wary of fake charities and fraudulent shipping notifications, which increase during the gift-giving season.
The president and CEO of the BBB cautions about buying items on social media marketplaces, reminding shoppers that these platforms do not vet sellers.
“The social site is not going to do vetting for you,” Holly Salmons told News 6. ”Just because there’s a listing doesn’t mean anyone has done any sort of vetting, that’s on you,” she said.
If you’re traveling for the holidays and driving a long distance to see family and friends, watch out for fake toll collection text messages.
These messages link to counterfeit websites that mimic real ones to steal your money and personal information, according to SunPass and Danny Jenkins of ThreatLocker.
“They might seem benign, like ‘I’m going on SunPass, I’m paying a toll, they need my driver’s license number.’ That seems reasonable, but it’s a scam,” Jenkins said.
You can see the BBB’s complete list here.