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BBB: Use Caution When Buying from Social Media Ads
Seeing pop-ads on social media? If you click on the ad, to evaluate the website (and the business behind it) before making a purchase.
BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous complaints from shoppers fooled by too-good-to-be-true social media ads. Just because a company advertises on Facebook, Instagram or another social platform does not mean it is trustworthy. Be sure to do your research before making a purchase.
How the Scam Works:
You are scrolling through social media and see an ad in your feed. Advertisements for clothes, make-up, beauty products, toys and even puppies are all very common. The ads hook you by offering a great deal, or, in the case of a beauty or health product, by claiming to produce amazing results. They may also promote a popular toy or product that's difficult to find in stores.
If you click on the ad, be sure to evaluate the website (and the business behind it) before making a purchase. BBB Scam Tracker has received reports from customers who were overcharged, never received their orders or ended up with faulty (or entirely different!) products.
Protect Yourself from an Online Shopping Scam
Facebook, which owns Instagram, reviews its ads for content. But it does not evaluate the businesses behind those ads.
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- Before buying online, confirm the site has real contact information. Make sure the seller has a working phone number and address on the website, so you can contact them in case of problems.
- If the price seems too good to be true, there's probably something wrong. Be wary if the item is selling for significantly lower than what you've seen elsewhere.
- Do your research. Before making a purchase, be sure to look for a secure site (look for HTTPS in the domain) and check their BBB Business Review (bbb.org/search).
For More Information
To learn more about Facebook advertising, check out their ad review policy here. Many online purchase scams use similar tactics. See BBB.org/shoppingonline for more advice.
To learn more about scams, go to BBB Scam Tips (BBB.org/scamtips). If you've been targeted by this scam, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience on the BBB Scam Tracker.