PADUCAH — While you’re shopping online this holiday season, remember the famous phrase, ‘checking it twice,’ in reference to double-checking the sites you’re shopping at. This time of the year, scammers prey on consumers buying online. Last year, consumers reported losing nearly $9 billion to fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s a 30% increase from 2021.
A fake website replicating Walmart.com.
When it comes to the different ways people get scammed, the most common way is an imposter scam, according to the FTC. An imposter scam is basically when a scammer lies about who they are to get your money. The second most common scam involves fake websites, which are also a risk this time of year. On the WPSD Facebook page we asked viewers if they had fallen victim to these scams. Several said yes.
Brittany Bailey expressed that she was scammed by a fake Bath and Body Works website. Once the money was taken out of her account, she never received her order, and there was no tracking number or way to contact them. Christina Hammons also expressed a similar experience online. She said she bought a discounted Thor’s hammer tool box set as a
