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CALGARY — The Better Business Bureau serving Alberta and East Kootenay is warning consumers about fake Halloween shopping websites and online ads as reports increase across North America.
The organization says scammers are advertising deals on costumes and other Halloween products through websites and ads that can appear legitimate.
BBB president and CEO Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen said some of the offers are phishing scams designed to get consumers to click malicious links and provide personal or banking information.
“Scammers are relentless and this is yet another example of the lengths they will go to get consumers to click on malicious links,” O’Sullivan-Andersen said.
She said consumers should be cautious when an online deal appears unusually cheap or comes from an unfamiliar retailer.
“It might all look very legitimate,” she said. “Unfortunately many of these deals are phishing scams to get people to click on links and then steal personal and banking information.”
The BBB recommends avoiding links in unexpected or unsolicited text messages and using trusted retailers when shopping online.
Consumers are also encouraged to use a credit card when making online purchases so transactions can be disputed if necessary.
The organization says shoppers should be skeptical of online advertisements offering products at deeply discounted prices.
Consumers should also check for HTTPS in a website address before entering personal or payment information, with the “S” indicating the connection is secure.
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