Scammers prey on us when we are most vulnerable. Although some of us are early holiday shoppers, others wait until the last minute to complete their holiday shopping. Scammers know this and are lurking to find the late shoppers scrambling for gifts. Many late shoppers feel a bit desperate, so they are at risk of falling for scams that divert them to fake websites.

These fake websites offer last-minute deals that are too good to be true—even better than cyber-Monday deals.

Don’t be fooled. According to the FTC, there are numerous fake shopping websites. It provides helpful tips on identifying and avoiding getting scammed by them. For instance, “Unusually low prices are a sign of a scam. Don’t click on ads that advertise a product at a very low price when you know it’s usually a very expensive item. Clicking the link in the ad could take you to a scammy site that takes your money and sends you something that looks totally different from what was advertised…or send you nothing at all.” In addition, the FTC recommends:

To protect yourself while shopping online:

• Do some research. Especially before you buy from an unfamiliar seller, search online for the name of the seller plus words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” See what others say about their experience with the seller.
• Check the terms of the sale. Look at the price, other charges, their refund policy, who pays for return shipping, and if there’s a restocking fee.
• Pay by credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer more protection and allow you to dispute charges if what you get isn’t what you ordered or if you get nothing at all.
• Never buy from online sellers who demand you pay with gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency. Only scammers tell you to pay that way.

Safe shopping and happy holidays to everyone!