If you’re planning to celebrate with your Christmas decorations, keep your eyes peeled for this scam. Every year, BBB Scam Tracker receives complaints during the holiday season about false advertising and false promises for holiday decor.

How the scam works

You’re looking online for holiday decorations for your home or lawn. You find the perfect item through a social media ad or search result. The photos on the site are superb! The decorations are larger than life, with incredible lights and features and, best of all, low prices.

You make your payment and wait for the decorations to arrive. However, when your package is delivered, the product looks nothing like what you saw online. Instead, it’s a poorly made miniature version of what you thought you bought. In many cases you may not receive the items at all. You now have no way to return items or receive a refund. In fact, you probably won’t even be able to contact the company.

One consumer reported the following experience: “I ordered very large Halloween displays at a great price. After more time than expected and several emails, they told me my order had been shipped. I found the tracking number and followed it to a very small town in North Carolina and the package was delivered to a mailbox via USPS. These would not fit through a letterbox and the company will not refund until the goods have been returned. » This consumer reported losing $98.

How to Avoid Holiday Decorating Scams

● Do your research before purchasing. Before purchasing from an unfamiliar website, check with the company. Make sure they have working contact information. This should include a phone number, email address, and preferably a physical address. Search other websites for reviews of the company and reports of scams. You can always search for business ratings and customer reviews on BBB.org.

● Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Keep in mind that large decorations that involve special lights and technology are expensive and may also be expensive to ship. If you find something amazing at a low price, it might be a scam.

● Don’t make quick purchases on social media. Fraudulent advertisers can track your purchasing habits from social media ads and target you with specific products they think you’ll fall for. Don’t buy anything impulsively while scrolling through your feed. Do your research first to avoid getting scammed.

● Always use your credit card for online purchases. Credit card companies allow you to dispute fraudulent charges, a resource you may not have if you purchase an item with a debit card or gift card. If you’re asked to pay by bank transfer, prepaid gift card, or digital wallet app, it could be a scam.

FOR MORE INFORMATION – Visit BBB Tip: Shop Safely This Holiday Season for more ways to protect yourself from scams during holiday shopping at bbb.org. If you spot a scam, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others recognize a scam before they fall victim to it.

FOR BBB INFORMATION – Visit BBB.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to search for a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, find our events, follow us on social media and much more!

This article was originally published on The Repository: BBB Warns Christmas Decoration Shoppers to Choose Carefully