{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"BBB Tips on How to Spot Phony Websites","description":"A podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties A BIG thank for to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara   Welcome to this week\u2019s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Tricky websites claim to offer discounted prices on Stanley cups and tumblers in a scam reported to BBB Scam Tracker repeatedly in recent weeks. Here\u2019s how to spot the scam so you don\u2019t lose money or personal information to con artists. How the scam works: You see an ad for Stanley travel cups on social media or after an online search. It appears to be from the official Stanley company or a popular sporting goods store. According to an ad, the store is running a flash sale with great prices on the cups \u2013 some are discounted to half the original price or more. Enticed by a good deal, you click on the link. When you do, you\u2019re redirected to a website where you can purchase. It looks like a legitimate site, so you enter your payment information and are charged for the item. However, soon after ordering, you\u2019ll notice some red flags. Some buyers reported never receiving a confirmation email and being unable to contact the company. Others received shipping information, but their product was never delivered. Several victims reported getting confirmation that their product had been delivered to Alaska, which is not where they reside. Here\u2019s one consumer\u2019s firsthand experience: \u201cThere was an advertisement for Stanley travel cups for Mother\u2019s Day through Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods. I clicked the ad and was taken to the \u2018Stanley\u2019 website, where I ordered and entered my credit card info. I received an order confirmation notice and tracking information from the seller. However, my travel cups were apparently \u2018delivered\u2019 in a completely different state, almost 800 miles from my location! The items were delivered the day after a \u2018Missing Mail Search Request\u2019 was initiated, but it wasn\u2019t initiated or requested by me. I have tried to contact both the shipping company and the seller through their website but have not gotten any response.\u201d If you purchase through a shady website, your personal information and the money you spend will be gone for good. The Stanley cup you ordered never even existed. How to avoid online shopping scams: \u25cf Only make purchases through sellers you know and trust. When making purchases online, only buy products from reputable businesses. If you find a great deal through a seller you\u2019ve never heard of, do plenty of research to ensure they are legit before entrusting them with your personal information and hard-earned money. \u25cf Watch out for imitation websites. Even if you think you are on a well-known vendor\u2019s website, you might not be. Scammers are experts at making lookalike websites to fool consumers into entering their personal and payment information. Take a hard look at the URL to ensure you aren\u2019t on a website that looks like a seller you know but is off by a word or even a single letter. \u25cf Beness\u2019 social media feed and website, and read reviews about the company on third-party websites to ensure they are a real business with real customers, quality products, and good customer service. \u25cf Stay extra vigilant around holidays. BBB Scam Tracker received multiple reports each day about this Stanley cup scam just before Mother\u2019s Day. If a holiday is approaching (especially one where it\u2019s customary to send gifts), stay alert to the possibility of scams. Don\u2019t wait until the last minute to purchase a gift, either. Bad actors play on people\u2019s desire to get a good deal. Plus, they know that last-minute shoppers are more vulnerable to scams than someone with plenty of time to research the seller.   Until next time! cautious about ads on social media. Many reputable businesses run social media ads but so do scammers. Sort real businesses from scams by doing your research! ","author_name":"Your Moment of Trust","author_url":"http:\/\/yourmomentoftrust.libsyn.com\/website","html":"