From the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia:
NFL’s Washington “Redskins” were recently pressured to retire their 89-year-old nickname and logo. Pressured name changes appear to be in vogue as some other teams are also being put to a decision on their names. These name changes will no doubt lead sports fans to quickly snap up jerseys, ball caps and other items with the team’s original logos. This opens up opportunities of online scams and websites for low priced “licensed merchandise.”
How the Scam Works
While searching for an authentic jersey online that has the original team logo on it, a site comes up in the search promising great deals and fast shipping. It might be in the form of a social media ad or a quick web search.
The store name doesn’t sound familiar; however, it has great photos and cheap prices, making it so believable that an order is placed. The credit card is account charged at check out and a confirmation is emailed. Everything seems normal, until weeks pass and the jersey never arrives. The anticipation of having a keepsake of a favorite team is suddenly dashed as the realization that neither the company nor the website exists when trying to connect with someone in “customer service.”
How to Avoid Online Purchase Scams:
Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If the price of an item, collectable or not, is significantly less than what it is on other well-known retailers’ sites, this is a red flag that it might be a scam. Even some “fair priced” items might be nothing but pictures and no products.
· Research the company before you purchase. If the company is unfamiliar, check BBB.org to see if they have a BBB Business Profile, or BBB Scam Tracker to see if anyone else has reported them as a scam. Look for contact information on the website such as a phone number or brick and mortar address as well as a robust social media presence to help determine if the company truly does exist.
· Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card as payment. Both payment types are often requested by scammers and, once the money is gone, there is no way to get the money back. Instead, make online purchases with a credit card and only on secure (https) websites.
For More Information
Read more about online purchase scams on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.
To learn more about scams, go to BBB Scam Tips ().To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.
