Mother’s Day Shopping Scams: Spot Them Before You Shop

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and with more people planning to spend than ever, scammers are already working to take advantage of the rush. According to recent reports, this year’s Mother’s Day spending is expected to reach a record high, and fraudsters see that as an opportunity. If you’re shopping for gifts online—especially if you’re not used to spotting scams—now is the time to know what to look for.

What happened

News outlets are warning consumers to watch for an increase in Mother’s Day shopping scams. The National Retail Federation and other groups have noted that total spending could surpass previous years, which typically brings a surge in fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads that promise deep discounts on popular gifts. Scammers also target shoppers with gift card fraud—for example, asking for payment in gift cards, which legitimate retailers rarely require for online purchases. These tactics aren’t new, but they tend to intensify around major holidays.

Why it matters

When you’re in a hurry to find the perfect gift, it’s easy to click on a deal that looks too good to be true. But a scam can cost you more than just money. It can also expose your credit card details, your address, and other personal data that can be used for identity theft. Beyond the immediate loss, dealing with a fraudulent charge or a compromised account takes time and stress. Knowing the red flags before you shop helps you avoid that hassle.

What readers can do

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

  • Be skeptical of very low prices. If a luxury handbag or electronics gift is being sold at 90% off from an unknown site, it’s probably a trick. Compare prices across well-known retailers.
  • Check the domain name. Scammers often register addresses that look like a trusted brand but with a small typo (e.g., “amaz0n-gifts.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for secure connections (https) and professional site design.
  • Don’t click links in unsolicited emails. Phishing emails with subject lines like “Mother’s Day Sale – 80% Off Everything” are common. Instead, open a new browser tab and navigate to the store’s website directly.
  • Use a credit card or a payment service (like PayPal) for online purchases. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or wire transfers. Avoid paying with gift cards, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrencies—legitimate merchants rarely ask for those.
  • Review social media ads carefully. Many scam ads appear on Facebook and Instagram. Check the account’s history, read reviews (watch for fake ones), and see if the business has a real physical address and customer service phone number.
  • If something feels off, pause. Scammers often create false urgency (“Sale ends tonight!”) to pressure you. Take five minutes to search for the business name plus “scam” or “review” before entering payment details.

If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly: contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge, change your passwords, and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

The information in this article draws from consumer protection advisories and news coverage of the expected rise in Mother’s Day spending and related scams. For further reading, see reports from the National Retail Federation and local news outlets such as WREX, which have circulated warnings about this exact trend. No single source is cited here as definitive—this is a summary of common knowledge among security experts and journalists.