Protect yourself from scams when shopping online during the holidays [Video]

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are kicking off the holiday shopping season, which also means more opportunities for scams and frauds.

Online shopping fraud remains a problem throughout the U.S. and Canada, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with more than $240 billion in U.S. online sales expected this holiday shopping season.

Online purchase scam tactics have remained the same since the 2021 BBB study and 2022 update. Online retail fraud continues to entice shoppers with hard-to-find items and promises of low prices and easy delivery, often on social media.

In 2024, reports to BBB showed scammers continued to use social media to find targets, with the majority of reports that year originating on social media, in particular on Facebook.