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Don’t Click! How to Avoid Social Media Ad Scams
Over one-third of U.S. adults who have bought something through an ad on their social media feed report being defrauded, according to a new AARP survey.
Don’t let scammers ad-vertise their way into your wallet this new year; here are three tips to stay ahead of social media shopping scams.
- Don't click on the ad. If the ad appears to be from a known retailer, type the address into your browser or use the retailer’s app. Scammers can impersonate legitimate retailers, and clicking on the ad could bring you to a copycat site.
- Read reviews and research. If the ad is from a retailer you’re unfamiliar with, verify the site’s legitimacy. Research the company and check for complaints with organizations like the Better Business Bureau.
- Check the product quality. Be wary of bait-and-switch scams where you receive a product inferior to what was advertised (or you receive nothing at all). If this happens, you can contact your credit card company to dispute the charge.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
