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During the holidays, scammers put a seasonal spin on common social media ad scams. BBB Scam Tracker receives reports each year of social media advent calendar scams targeting shoppers.
How the scam works
As you scroll through your social media feed, you come across a themed advent calendar that looks fun and unique. Judging by the comments on the post, many people have already purchased the item and love it. The post links you to a website where you can make your purchase. Everything looks normal and the price is reasonable, so you place an order. Your credit card is charged, and you receive a tracking number, but as the days turn into weeks, you start wondering if you’ll ever receive the calendar.
When you try to contact the merchant to get an update or a refund, you may find that their website is now gone, and any customer service phone calls or emails go unanswered.
In most cases, your calendar never arrives because it never existed. One consumer told BBB Scam Tracker: “I saw an ad on Instagram for an Advent Calendar. After I placed the order, I received a confirmation email and a few days later I received a shipping tracking number. For the next 10 days, the shipping info bounced between China, and Jamaica, NY. Then there was no update for 6 days. I tried to contact the customer service for the merchant and there was no response. Another 6 days with no updates and I’m trying to get a refund.” This consumer reported losing $120.
If you’re among the "lucky" few who do receive a product from a scam site, it could be a far cry from what you saw online. Another consumer had this experience: “Advertised a Bluey Advent calendar with figurines on the back. I received the package to not only find poor quality items but random items like a single dice. Some of the items weren’t even painted fully.” This consumer reported losing $33.
How to avoid social media ad scams
- Research before you buy. Buying something on social media on a whim can be tempting, especially if it isn’t too expensive, but resist the urge. Search for the business before you click “buy” to make sure they have a legitimate website and contact information. Look for the BBB Seal or search on BBB.org to see if the business is BBB Accredited.
- When in doubt, buy from the company's actual website instead of a social media app. Scammers can create fake websites that are convincing and mimic a popular business's real website. If you click on a link from a social media ad, you may not be able to see the URL and know if the website is real or fake. Even if the website has professional-looking photos and good customer reviews, it may be fake. If the advent calendar in question is being sold by a well-known business, but you're skeptical about the price or the website, leave your social media app and visit the business's website on your own. This can help to ensure you're on their real website. Read these tips on how to identify a fake website.
- Don’t fall for deals that are too good to be true. If an ad promises an intricate advent calendar containing valuable gifts for an extremely low price, it probably is too good to be true. Use your best judgment and think before you buy.
- Search for consumer complaints. Do an online search of the product and business names along with the words “complaints,” “scams,” or “reviews” and see what you come up with. Check BBB Scam Tracker to see if others have reported the company or the product as a scam. If you find reports of others who were scammed or didn’t receive what they were promised, steer clear.
For More Information
Read more tips on social media ad scams and smart online shopping.
Avoid scams this holiday season by reading BBB’s Holiday Tips. You can find more tips by visiting BBB.org/AvoidScams.
If you’ve come across a social media scam recently, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others spot a scam before it’s too late.