Better Business Bureau helps moms fend off scams this Mother’s Day

With three days until Mother’s Day, consumers are expected to spend a whopping $20 billion on flowers, jewelry, brunches and spa treatment. According to the National Retail Federation, that’s an average of $163 per mom. With so much at stake, con artists are trying to get in on the action. Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington is advising consumers to spend wisely this Mother’s Day.

May 8, 2015 12:58 pm

With three days until Mother’s Day, consumers are expected to spend a whopping $20 billion on flowers, jewelry, brunches and spa treatment. According to the National Retail Federation, that’s an average of $163 per mom. With so much at stake, con artists are trying to get in on the action. Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington is advising consumers to spend wisely this Mother’s Day.

BBB offers the following advice for avoiding scams:

  • Do your research before sending flowers. Most of the complaints BBB receives about florists involve late or wrong deliveries, or orders that were never delivered at all. Check out BBB Business Reviews on florists before ordering.
  • Order online securely. Look for signs that websites are secure. The beginning of online websites should change from http to https on payment screens, indicating that the information is encrypted. Never enter personal information in a pop-up screen.
  • Read the fine print. Ask about the refund policy if the delivery is late, never arrives or is in poor condition.
  • Beware of phishing electronic greeting cards. Don’t open any attachments or click on links that come from an unknown source. They could contain destructive malware disguised as warm wishes.
  • Be on the lookout for fake gift cards. Scammers often use social media to post gift card “deals” at steep discounts. It ends up being a ruse to steal personal information. Use only trustworthy companies for gift card purchases.