This week, we kicked off our 2024 Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals edition with a warning about online sales scams.

It is common for online retailers to offer special deals and discounts during the summer months.

This can create a flood of online traffic and wherever money is being spent, scammers are usually there for a piece of the action.

They impersonate major brands by setting up imposter websites to trick people into sharing sensitive information. Scammers also send phishing messages containing malware, and once a target clicks the link, their information is compromised.

We created a resource to help people avoid summer shopping schemes—called Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons. 

In it, you will find the following tips:

• Ensure the website is legitimate and not a spoofed “look-alike;”
• Never click on links in solicitations; 
• Know that if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is;
• Pay with credit cards that offer additional consumer protection; and
• Avoid buying from sellers who request payment from a third-party source.

To learn more about Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons, click here. To access Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons in Spanish, click here. 

You can report online shopping scams or other fraudulent activity at 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. 

By staying vigilant, you can take advantage of summer sales securely and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.