Mother’s Day Scams Are Rising: How to Shop Safely and Avoid Getting Tricked

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning that con artists are actively targeting people looking for gifts for their mothers and mother figures. Based on complaints logged in the BBB Scam Tracker, the agency says fraudulent activity—fake websites, phishing messages, and gift card swindles—spikes every year around this holiday. Knowing what to look for can save you money and frustration.

What’s Happening

The BBB’s most recent alert, reported by the Daily Herald on May 7, 2026, describes several scam patterns that have been showing up in consumer reports.

  • Fake online stores. Scammers set up professional-looking websites that offer popular Mother’s Day items—flowers, jewelry, handbags, gourmet baskets—at deep discounts. After you place an order, the item never arrives, or you receive a cheap counterfeit. By the time you realize you’ve been tricked, the site is gone.
  • Gift card fraud. A shopper is asked to pay for a purchase using gift cards (often iTunes or Google Play) instead of a credit card. The scammer then drains the card before you can use it. In other cases, someone contacts you pretending to be a loved one in need of a last-minute gift and asks you to read the card numbers over the phone.
  • Phishing emails and texts. Messages that look like they come from a well-known retailer or delivery service include a link to “track your order” or “confirm your delivery address.” Clicking that link can lead to a malicious site that steals your login credentials or installs malware.
  • Social media imposters. Scammers create duplicate profiles of real local florists or boutiques and advertise “exclusive Mother’s Day specials.” They take orders and payments but never deliver.

Why It Matters

Losing money to a scam is not just a financial hit—it can ruin the holiday itself. Many of these schemes target people who are in a hurry or acting out of emotion, making them less cautious. Consumers in the U.S. reported losing more than $10 billion to scams in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, and holiday-related fraud accounts for a disproportionate share.

Furthermore, sharing personal information with a fake site can lead to identity theft. Once a criminal has your address, email, and credit card number, they can make further purchases or sell your data on the dark web. The damage often extends well past Mother’s Day.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to avoid online shopping altogether—just take a few extra steps before hitting “Buy.”

  1. Research the seller before you pay. Check the company’s profile on BBB.org. Look for reviews on independent sites, not just testimonials posted on the seller’s own page. If you can’t find any real customer feedback, treat the offer as suspicious.

  2. Use a credit card, not a debit card or gift card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections. If a merchant insists on payment via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, that is a major red flag.

  3. Watch for deals that seem too good to be true. A 70 percent discount on a luxury handbag from a store you’ve never heard of is almost certainly a scam.

  4. Be wary of pressure to act fast. Scammers often create artificial urgency: “Sale ends tonight!” or “Only three left in stock.” A legitimate retailer will give you time to decide.

  5. Don’t click unsolicited links. If you receive an email or text about a package delivery or order confirmation, go directly to the retailer’s website by typing the address yourself. Do not click the link in the message.

  6. Check the website carefully. Look for misspellings, odd URLs (like macys-deals.com instead of macys.com), and missing contact information. A real business will have a phone number and physical address.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you realize you’ve fallen for a scam:

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge and freeze the card if needed.
  • Change the passwords on any accounts you used during the transaction, especially email and shopping accounts.
  • Report the scam to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. This helps warn others.
  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  • If you gave the scammer your Social Security number, place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion).

Sources:

  • BBB scam alert reported by the Daily Herald, May 7, 2026.
  • BBB Scam Tracker data and consumer tips, Better Business Bureau.
  • Federal Trade Commission, consumer advice on gift card scams.