BBB warns holiday shoppers of fake social media ads

BBB warns holiday shoppers of fake social media ads

AT THE EXPENSE OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. KETV NEWSWATCH’S SEVEN’S KATHERINE GARCIA HAS TONIGH’S 7′ CAN HELP ALE.RT KATHERE:IN WORKING OUT OF HER HOME IN CHESTER, NEBRASKA, METAL ARTIST CINDY CHINN IS KNOWN AS THE SAW LA.DY SHE SELLS CTOUSM NDHA SAWS, EACH CARVED WITH A UNIQUE DESIGN. >> THIS HAS GOT A STANDARD FISHING TAIL SAW WHERE SOMEBODY SAYS, I WANT DAD WITH TWO BOYS AND A DAUGHTER, FISHING. KATHERINE: BUT THIS PAST SUMMER, CHINN SAYS SHE STARTED NICOTING BOGUS ADS AND FACEBOOK PAGES PROMOTING DEALS FOR HER ARTWORK. >> THERE WERE A COUPLE ADS THAT D HA10,000 SHARES. KATHERINE: THE BETTER BUSISSNE BUREAU SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE ADS COME FROM FROM MAINLAND CHINA, CLAIMING TO SELL PUPPIES, CARS, OR LUXURGIY FT OTHERS PROMOTE “FREE” TRIAL OFFERS — ALL OF IT, FAKE. >> IT’S BECOMING MORE SOPHISTICATED AND IT’S WIDESPREAD. ALEXANA:DR 40% OF BBB AMSC TRACKER REPORTS ARE COMING FROM VICTIMS OF THESE ADS. STEVE BAKER IS AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE SPECIALIST. >> THE CROOKS SET UP FEAK WEBSITES AND FAKE COMPANIES, FAKE FACEBOOK PAGES, OFTEN STEALING PHOTOS FROM LEGITIMEAT BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES AND USING THOSE TO FURTHER THEIR SCAMS. KATHERE:IN CHINN SAY SHE GOT SOME HELP FROM A SCAM-BUSTING ORGANIZATION TO REPORT THEDS TO FACEBOOK. SHE’S USED FROWNING EMOJIS OR COMMENTING SCAMMER SITE. BUT SHE SAYS THE ADS ARE STILL THERE. >> NEVER ONCE IN ALL OF THE SCAMMERS THAT I’VE REPORTED HAVE GOTTEN ONE THING FROM FA

BBB warns holiday shoppers of fake social media ads

Scammers steal small business’ pictures, create fake companies and promote bogus deals on Facebook and Instagram

The Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers to stay away from fake ads on Facebook and Instagram. If you suspect an ad is bogus, contact the BBB or the Federal Trade Commission, and if you bought something from one of these ads, call your credit card company.The BBB said the majority of the ads come from mainland China, claiming to sell puppies, cars or luxury gifts. Others promote free-trial offers, but all of the deals are fake. Forty percent of BBB Scam Tracker reports are coming from victims of these ads. Steve Baker is an international investigative specialist for the BBB.”It’s becoming more sophisticated and it’s widespread,” Baker said. “The crooks set up fake websites and fake companies, fake Facebook pages, often stealing photos from legitimate businesses in the United States and using those to further their scams.”Metal artist Cindy Chinn of Chester, Nebraska is known as “the Saw Lady.” She sells custom hand saws, each carved with a unique design. But, this past summer, Chinn said she started noticing bogus ads and Facebook pages promoting deals for her artwork. “There were a couple ads that had 10,000 shares,” Chinn said.Chinn said she got some help from a scam-busting organization to report the ads to Facebook. She’s used frowning emojis or commenting ‘scammer site!’, but she said the ads are still up. “Never once in all of the scammers that I’ve reported have gotten one thing from Facebook saying, ‘Oh hey, you’re right!’ or ‘Can you give us more information on this?'” Chinn said.

The Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers to stay away from fake ads on Facebook and Instagram.

If you suspect an ad is bogus, contact the BBB or the Federal Trade Commission, and if you bought something from one of these ads, call your credit card company.

The BBB said the majority of the ads come from mainland China, claiming to sell puppies, cars or luxury gifts. Others promote free-trial offers, but all of the deals are fake. Forty percent of BBB Scam Tracker reports are coming from victims of these ads.

Steve Baker is an international investigative specialist for the BBB.

“It’s becoming more sophisticated and it’s widespread,” Baker said. “The crooks set up fake websites and fake companies, fake Facebook pages, often stealing photos from legitimate businesses in the United States and using those to further their scams.”

Metal artist Cindy Chinn of Chester, Nebraska is known as “the Saw Lady.” She sells custom hand saws, each carved with a unique design. But, this past summer, Chinn said she started noticing bogus ads and Facebook pages promoting deals for her artwork.

“There were a couple ads that had 10,000 shares,” Chinn said.

Chinn said she got some help from a scam-busting organization to report the ads to Facebook. She’s used frowning emojis or commenting ‘scammer site!’, but she said the ads are still up.

“Never once in all of the scammers that I’ve reported have gotten one thing from Facebook saying, ‘Oh hey, you’re right!’ or ‘Can you give us more information on this?'” Chinn said.

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