Online shopping can be so much fun: You find a shiny object you love, click the “buy” button, and get a package delivered to your door.
But these transactions don’t always go so smoothly. In 2019, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center got an average of 1,300 online theft complaints a day with a total of $3.5 billion in losses to individuals and businesses.
The FBI recently has had more complaints about consumers not receiving goods purchased online. Many of the buyers fell for “deals” advertised on social media or search engine shopping pages. They either got nothing or received a random item like a box of disposable facemasks that could be returned only by paying a high international shipping charge.
These scammers can really suck the joy out of shopping. Check out our online shopping safety tips so you can avoid becoming their latest victim.