Better Business Bureau warns of holiday shopping scams

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers to be on alert during the holiday season to avoid falling victim to online scams.

"It's important to make sure that you do your research," said BBB's Michelle Gleba. "We also encourage people to make sure that you're using legitimate websites."

Gleba said legitimate website addresses start with "HTTPS" and the sites typically include more detail.

"If you're finding a website to be very vague, that can be a red flag," Gleba said. "You also want to make sure you're familiar with a company's privacy policy so you know how your information is going to be used."

The Better Business Bureau advises shoppers to use a credit card rather than a debit card when possible.

"If something were to go wrong, it's much easier to dispute a charge on a credit card," Gleba said.

Phishing scams are also popular during the holidays, according to the BBB. A phishing scam is when an email comes to your inbox asking you to confirm a package delivery. The scammers then steal the personal information linked to that delivery.

Gleba said it's also important to look at advertisements closely to make sure they are legitimate.

"If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so just think before you click," Gleba said.