Charlotte County Florida Weekly

Looking for this season’s hot toy? Beware of scams




 

 

Every year, there are always a few “must-have” toys on most kids’ holiday wish lists. The hot toy sells out fast and becomes expensive and hard to find. On top of that, parents worry about getting their deliveries on time.

In 2022, according to Amazon (a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business), these include Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball, Snap Circuits, Breyer Horses Unicorn Magic Wood Stable, National Geographic Break Open Geodes and everyone’s favorite, Squishmallows.

But scammers are using the toys’ popularity to trick parents out of their money.

How the scam works

You are looking for these toys, but they are sold out at every store you visit. So you decide to shop online. A quick search takes you to a page that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site may look professional and have original images of the product. It may even offer the product at discounted prices, claiming a “last-minute deal” or “flash sale.”

Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. In many cases reported to www.BBB.org/ScamTracker, buyers thought they were ordering a high-quality toy. Instead, they received a cheap counterfeit version. In other cases, the products never shipped at all, and the websites vanished. In either case, when the dissatisfied customers tried to follow up with the company, they found that the staff either didn’t respond or refused to provide a refund.

For example, one shopper told BBB Scam Tracker that they fell for a phony deal on a popular plush toy: “This company offered hard-to-find Squishmallows. I purchased one for $40. The website claims there is a 30-day hassle-free policy. I finally received the product, and it is counterfeit. There are no tags on it, and it is of very poor quality. I have tried to use the email provided to request a return label and it is not a real email. They also have a chat available on the website, but gee, guess what? No one is on the chat! I will be disputing the purchase on my credit card.”

Another shopper found what they thought was a great deal on a Magic Mixies Cauldron, but the product never shipped.

“I tried to reach out by email, website contact form and phone with no response. The phone goes to a Gmail mailbox,” the consumer told BBB Scam Tracker. “I was able to resolve it via a PayPal dispute, however, the company falsely had a Priority Mail tracking.”

Tips to avoid toy scams

¦ Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust.

¦ Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. Unreasonably low prices are a red flag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price sounds too good to be true — it probably is.

¦ Research before you buy. If a company seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with your personal information. Before offering up your name, address and credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer service number.

For more information

See www.BBB.org/onlineshopping for more online shopping tips. For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, see wwww.BBB.org/Holiday.

If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker (www.bbb.org/scamtracker). Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

If you see a questionable ad, report it to BBB AdTruth ( www.bbb.org/all/bbbi/adtruth) so the organization can investigate.

BBB is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles and BBB Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust.

To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is a difference in viewpoints. For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. Better Business Bureau Serving West Florida is one of many local, independent BBBs across North America that provide business profiles on companies within its 11-county service area, encompassing Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, DeSoto, Collier, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Hardee. ¦

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