With the holiday shopping season officially underway, the Better Business Bureau is warning you to watch out for deals too good to be true.  It’s not just Santa who’s watching you this time of year.  Scammers are doing their homework as well.

 

“They know where we’re at," said Rebecca Barr with the BBB.  "So, if you’re shopping online, they’re going to be online.  If you’re scrolling through social media, they’re putting up ads for products that you might pay for and you’ll never get.  So, you really have to have your guard up, whether you’re shopping online or in the store.”

 

Barr added shoppers need to especially be aware of which websites they’re visiting.  She said it’s important to make sure you’re entering payment information on a secure site that includes https at the start of the address.

 

“Online shopping scams this year are expected to reach $380 million, and these types of scams also accounted for nearly 40% of all scams reported to the BBB’s Scam Tracker, last year.”

 

And just because you enter a brick-and-mortar store, doesn’t mean you can let down your guard.  Barr suggests reading the fine-print on sales flyers.  And she recommends setting a budget, and then sticking to it.

 

And above all else, remember what your parents told you, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

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