Don’t Get Scammed This Mother’s Day: How to Spot Fake Deals and Phishing Traps

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, millions of shoppers are looking for gifts online. Scammers know this, and they are already setting up fake websites, sending phishing emails, and running gift card schemes designed to steal money and personal data. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued its annual alert, warning that holiday shopping periods, especially Mother’s Day, are prime time for fraud.

This article explains the most common scams targeting Mother’s Day shoppers right now and provides practical steps to avoid losing your money or identity.

What Happened

The BBB regularly tracks and reports on seasonal scams. Their latest alert, highlighted in a Daily Herald article, points to a surge in fraudulent activity aimed at people buying gifts for their mothers. The main tactics include:

  • Fake shopping websites – Lookalike domains that mimic well-known brands (e.g., “amaz0n.com” or “etsy-shop.net”) with prices that are hard to resist.
  • Phishing emails and social media ads – Messages that appear to come from familiar retailers, offering Mother’s Day discounts or “buy one, get one” deals. The links lead to data-collection forms or malware.
  • Gift card fraud – Scammers contacting victims via phone, email, or social media, insisting that payment for a product or service must be made with gift cards (often iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon cards).

These schemes have been reported across multiple states, and the BBB urges caution, especially for shoppers who might be in a hurry or less experienced with online buying.

Why It Matters

Mother’s Day is an emotionally charged occasion. People want to find the perfect gift and may click on a too-good-to-be-true deal without verifying the source. That urgency is exactly what scammers exploit.

A fake website might look polished, with professional photos and even a customer service number. But the moment you enter your credit card details, the scammer takes your money and sends either nothing or a cheap counterfeit. Worse, your payment information can be used for identity theft. According to the BBB, gift card scams are particularly prevalent during Mother’s Day because scammers know that victims often buy gift cards as presents anyway, making it easier to convince them it’s a legitimate payment method.

The financial impact can be significant: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that consumers lost over $200 million to gift card scams in 2025 alone, with holiday periods accounting for a large share.

What Readers Can Do

Protecting yourself doesn’t require advanced technical skills. These simple checks can prevent most Mother’s Day shopping scams:

1. Verify the website before you buy

  • Look at the domain name carefully. Misspellings, extra words, or different top-level domains (e.g., “.shop” instead of “.com”) are red flags.
  • Check for a padlock icon in the address bar and that the URL starts with “https://”. That indicates a secure connection, but it is not a guarantee of legitimacy.
  • Search for the business name plus “scam” or “complaint” to see if others have reported issues.
  • Use the BBB’s website (bbb.org) to look up the business’s rating and any complaint history.

2. Treat unsolicited deals with skepticism

  • If you receive an email or see a social media ad offering an 80% discount on a luxury handbag or electronics, it is almost certainly a scam.
  • Hover your mouse over any link without clicking to see the actual destination. If the displayed text says “macys.com” but the link goes to “macys-deals.xyz”, do not click.
  • Never enter personal information on a page you reached through an ad or email. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s official website in your browser.

3. Understand how gift cards work

  • No legitimate company or government agency will ever ask you to pay for anything with a gift card. This applies to purchases, shipping fees, taxes, or “verification.”
  • If someone on the phone pressures you to buy gift cards and read them the numbers, hang up. Report the call to the FTC.
  • When buying gift cards as gifts, purchase them from a trusted retailer or directly from the card issuer. Avoid cards sold on third-party marketplaces (like eBay or Craigslist), as they may have been tampered with.

4. Use secure payment methods

  • Pay with a credit card rather than a debit card or wire transfer. Credit cards offer better fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your email and shopping accounts. That adds an extra layer of defense even if a scammer gets your password.

5. Report scams when you see them

  • File a complaint with the BBB’s Scam Tracker.
  • Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • If you lost money or shared personal details, contact your bank and credit card company immediately.

Sources

  • Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Scam alerts and consumer tips
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Gift card scam data and reporting
  • Daily Herald article: “BBB scam alert: Con artists target Mother’s Day shoppers” – May 7, 2026

Staying informed is the best defense. By double-checking offers and sticking to known retailers, you can make this Mother’s Day about giving, not losing.