BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – As holiday shopping ramps up, the Better Business Bureau of Birmingham is urging consumers to slow down before clicking “buy now,” warning that scammers are targeting bargain hunters through fake retail websites.
The organization says scammers are creating convincing copycat websites designed to look like well-known retailers. These sites often advertise steep discounts on popular items — deals that appear too good to pass up and are frequently promoted through social media ads.
The Better Business Bureau says many of these fake sites closely resemble legitimate retailers, making them difficult to spot at first glance. Small details, however, can signal trouble. One of the biggest red flags is the website’s URL, which may include misspellings or subtle changes in the name. In some cases, the site may also be missing “https” at the beginning of the web address, an indicator of a secure connection…