Greg's Corner

Beware this TikTok shopping scam

By Greg Collier

There is an old saying that goes, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”. That saying could not apply more to social media. In a landscape filled with bots, con artists, and shady advertisements, it’s no wonder scammers have taken to the hottest social media platform to spread their newest scam.

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about an online shopping scam taking place on TikTok. According to the BBB, scammers are posting videos to TikTok claiming they’re disgruntled employees of a high-end jewelry store. The scammers say they’re quitting from the store and to get back at their employers, they’re going to give viewers a secret code to get free merchandise.

The trick here is that viewers are directed to a fake website that looks like a retailer’s website. While the ‘secret code’ gives the viewer 100% discounts for the merchandise, shipping fees will rack up. If someone were to complete their order, the scammers would have the victim’s financial information. If the victim receives any product at all, it’s usually a cheap knock-off. The BBB is also warning this scam could be duplicated using any kind of retailer.

We say this a lot, but it really tends to be true. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Any outrageous offers like this should be thoroughly researched before committing to making a payment. IN actuality, you should really only shop with retailers who have already gained your trust. Lastly, if at all possible, always shop online with a credit card. If you get ripped off while using a credit card, you’re more than likely to get your money back than you would with a debit card, as credit cards provide more protection to consumers.