3 ways to spot rip-offs while you’re last-minute shopping

Still need to get a few last-minute gifts before Monday? (Don’t worry, it happens to all of us.)

You should be cautious.

Your social media page might seem to know exactly what’s on your shopping list (yes, we all think our phones are listening to us) — but the Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are impersonating real companies in ads on Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms.

So, how do you navigate past the fakes without passing up the real bargains?

The FTC says this is how to protect yourself from phony ads:

• Do some research before you buy. Unusually low prices are a sign of a scam. If you see an ad for a familiar company, but you’re not sure the ad is real, go to the company’s website using a page you know is official — not the link in the ad.

• Pay by credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer more protection, and you can dispute charges if what you get is not what you ordered, or if you get nothing at all.

• Know only scammers demand you pay with gift cards, wire transfers through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram, payment apps, or cryptocurrency. Sending money that way is like sending cash. It’s nearly impossible to get it back if there’s a problem. But reporting the scam as soon as possible increases your chances of getting your money back.

Already paid or given your information to a scammer? Read What To Do if You Were Scammed to find out what to do next. And help fight fraud by telling the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.