AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) knows the internet is a great resource, but statistics show that not every sale is a good deal.
“More than 8 percent of websites are actually fake. There’s a clear uptick in people shopping on these types of scams, but social media is also having a huge impact on that,” said Julie Wheeler, president and CEO of BBB West Virginia.
As the Internet has grown, so has the minds of crooks. Some newer techniques include the use of promoted or sponsored ads.
“Cheaters are getting more sophisticated. They’ve been following technology, and with every new technology that comes along, they’ll figure out ways to use it to their advantage and separate people from their money,” Wheeler said.
Shoppers can be as smart as liars. One way shoppers can get a head start is by familiarizing themselves with the website they’re on, the BBB said.
“Don’t let people convince you to pay with gift cards or bitcoin. You want to play with credit cards, so if you have a problem, you can dispute it,” Wheeler said.
Not making assumptions is one of the best ways to keep your funds safe, according to the BBB.
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