How to recognize fake advertising and how to protect yourself from it

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Have you ever received an ad for a product you were looking for?

This holiday season, scammers are using social media users’ data to offer tempting offers that really are too good to be true.

Many social media users were shown ads based on their previous searches or purchases, often with price tags that were shockingly cheap compared to the sticker price. Before jumping on a seemingly fantastic offer, customers should make sure the seller isn’t secretly a scammer.

Scammers work year-round to steal money from unsuspecting victims, and their efforts often intensify around the holidays. Fraudulent companies advertise a product at a fraction of the normal cost, but not to save customers money.

In fact, companies use social media user data to create personalized ads for products that they know will appeal to the user. The unfortunate victims who fall into the scammers’ trap are often sent pirated copies of the expected product or nothing at all, and customer service numbers are either nowhere to be found or are just part of another scam.

But it’s not all bad, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from falling for this ever-present trick.

If you are seriously considering purchasing a product through a social media advertisement, you should try to purchase it directly from the company and not through a reseller. Search for the company name online and make sure the brand and product actually exists and looks legitimate.

You should also look for a customer service number and refund policy to ensure you have replacement options in case the product does not meet your expectations.

Additionally, if possible, you should use your credit card instead of a debit card as it offers better protection against fraud.