Mother’s Day Shopping Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them

If you’re buying gifts for Mother’s Day this week, you’re not alone—and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) published a scam alert on May 7, 2026, warning that con artists are actively targeting shoppers with fake deals, phishing emails, and gift card fraud. The rush to find the perfect present creates the exact environment fraudsters exploit: urgency, distraction, and a willingness to click first and think later.

Here’s what’s happening and how you can protect your money and personal information.

What Happened

According to the BBB alert (reported by the Daily Herald), scammers are using several tactics to trick Mother’s Day shoppers:

  • Fake websites that imitate popular retailers. They often use a similar domain name (e.g., “flowers-delivery-usa.co” instead of a real florist) and offer steep discounts.
  • Phishing emails that appear to come from known brands, promising “free” gifts or exclusive deals if you “claim now” by clicking a link.
  • Gift card scams where a caller or email sender claims you need to pay for a purchase with gift cards—a classic red flag.

These are not new tricks, but the seasonal timing makes them more effective. People are browsing more, spending more, and less likely to double-check a deal that looks too good to pass up.

Why It Matters

Losing money to a scam is bad enough, but Mother’s Day scams can also expose sensitive data. Phishing links may lead to credential theft—entering your email and password on a fake site gives scammers access to your accounts. Gift card fraud is especially damaging because it’s nearly impossible to recover the funds once the card numbers are shared.

The BBB notes that many victims report losing between $50 and $500, though amounts can go higher. And unlike credit card transactions, gift card payments offer no chargeback protection.

Beyond the financial hit, there’s the emotional cost: you may end up with no gift for Mom and a lingering sense of being duped during a holiday meant to show appreciation.

What Readers Can Do

Here are concrete steps to shop safely this Mother’s Day:

1. Verify the seller before you buy.
If you’re shopping on a site you don’t know, search for the company name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Check the BBB’s directory at bbb.org for business ratings and customer reviews. Avoid sites with misspellings, broken English, or no physical address.

2. Be skeptical of deals that seem too good.
An 80% discount on a luxury handbag or flowers for $9.99 is almost certainly a lure. Compare prices across known retailers. If the offer is time-limited and pushes you to act now, slow down.

3. Don’t click links in unsolicited emails.
Phishing attempts often use generic greetings like “Dear Shopper” and encourage immediate action. Hover over links to see the real destination—if it doesn’t match the retailer’s official URL, don’t click. Instead, open a browser and type the store’s address directly.

4. Use a credit card, not a debit card or gift card.
Credit cards offer fraud protection that debit cards and gift cards don’t. If a seller asks you to pay with a gift card or wire transfer, stop. Legitimate merchants do not request payment via gift cards.

5. Watch for signs of fake websites.
Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and “https://” at the start of the URL. But remember: a padlock only means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is legitimate. Copycat sites can have https too. The real test is the domain name itself.

6. If you’re scammed, act fast.
Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute the charge. Report the scam to the BBB at bbb.org/scamtracker and to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The more details you share, the easier it is to warn others.

Sources

  • BBB Scam Alert – May 7, 2026 (as reported by Daily Herald)
  • BBB.org – Business directory and Scam Tracker
  • Federal Trade Commission – ReportFraud.ftc.gov