How to Spot Mother’s Day Shopping Scams: A BBB Alert Guide

Scammers are out in full force ahead of Mother’s Day. With shoppers hunting for gifts, con artists are deploying fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent social media ads designed to steal money and personal information. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued an alert on May 7, 2026, detailing the most common schemes and how to avoid them. Here’s what you need to know to shop safely this year.

What happened

According to the BBB, Mother’s Day has become a prime target for online fraud. Scammers set up fake online stores that mimic well-known retailers, offering deep discounts on popular gifts like jewelry, flowers, and electronics. They also run aggressive social media ads that lead to lookalike checkout pages designed to capture credit card details. In addition, phishing emails—often with subject lines like “Mother’s Day Sale – 70% Off Everything”—direct recipients to bogus websites or prompt them to click malicious links.

The BBB’s alert notes that many of these scams rely on urgency: “limited-time offer,” “only 10 left in stock,” or “order by midnight” to rush shoppers into making decisions without verifying the seller. Gift card scams also spike this time of year. Fraudsters pose as a child, a spouse, or even a charity and ask for gift cards as a last-minute present.

Why it matters

These scams aren’t just annoying—they can lead to significant financial harm. Fake stores may take your payment and never ship anything. Phishing links can install malware or steal login credentials. Gift card requests, once the numbers are shared, are essentially impossible to recover. The emotional element of Mother’s Day makes people more willing to bend their usual caution. And for less tech-savvy shoppers—especially older adults—these schemes can be particularly convincing.

The BBB estimates that holiday-specific scams surge each year, and Mother’s Day is no exception. Beyond direct losses, your personal information can end up on dark web marketplaces, leading to identity theft long after the holiday is over.

What readers can do

The good news is that a few straightforward steps can cut your risk dramatically.

  • Check the seller before you buy. Look up the company on BBB.org. Search for the store’s name plus “scam” or “review” to see if others have reported problems. If the site has no contact information or a physical address, treat it as a red flag.

  • Be skeptical of extreme discounts. A “90% off” offer on a luxury handbag or designer perfume is almost certainly fake. Compare the price to legitimate retailers. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

  • Pay with a credit card, not a debit card or wire transfer. Credit cards offer better fraud protection. Avoid paying via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency—these are nearly untraceable once sent.

  • Inspect URLs carefully. Scammers often use addresses that look like the real thing but with slight misspellings (e.g., “amaz0n-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Hover over links before clicking in emails or ads.

  • Watch for poor grammar and generic greetings. Legitimate companies usually use your name in communications. Emails that start with “Dear Customer” or contain awkward phrasing are common phishing hallmarks.

  • Read the return policy. A legitimate store will have a clear refund and return process. If the policy is missing, confusing, or says “no refunds,” shop elsewhere.

  • If something feels off, walk away. Trust your instincts. You can always find another gift.

If you’ve been scammed

Act quickly. First, contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge and cancel the card if needed. Then report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and your state consumer protection office. Change passwords for any accounts you may have used, and monitor your bank statements for unauthorized transactions in the coming weeks.

Sources

  • BBB scam alert: Con artists target Mother’s Day shoppers. Daily Herald, May 7, 2026.
  • Better Business Bureau. “BBB Scam Alert: Mother’s Day Shopping Risks.” BBB.org, accessed May 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “How to Avoid a Scam.” FTC.gov.