Seen any tempting Labor Day deals on social media? Watch out! Scammers are also working overtime to steal your money. Check before you buy! Keep reading to see how Labor Day shopping scams work and how to shop safely.

Top 3 red flags of a shopping scam

Below are common red flags of shopping scams that spike during Labor Day sales. If you encounter any of these, watch out — you may have become a target:

1. Too-good-to-be-true deals

2. Fake online shops that look real

1. Too-good-to-be-true deals

Clearance sales? Limited-time offers? Scam ads often promote deals that seem too good to be true — and they are. Stay alert!

2. Fake online shops that look real

Fake online shops can look identical to legitimate ones, but signs like broken buttons or suspicious web addresses give them away. Always double-check the website!

Below is a sample fake online shop featuring Labor Day sale: a copycat Costco website. (Hint: the legitimate web address should be costco.com)

3. Requests for credit card info

Scammers trick you into paying but never ship the items—and steal your credit card details to drain your money later. Don’t risk it!

Tips to protect yourself from online shopping scams

• Beware of Big Discounts. Extremely low prices are a major red flag!
• Verify the legitimacy of a retailer before placing an order.
• Don’t use links or buttons from unknown sources.
• Always double-check the URL and ensure the web address matches the legitimate retailer’s URL exactly.
• Verify any giveway campaigns and shopping promotions directly through the official website or customer service.
• Use secure payment options such as credit cards or services like PayPal for added protection.
• Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the charges if you’ve made a payment already.
• Use Trend Micro ScamCheck: When you’re not sure if something’s a scam, check with Trend Micro!

ScamCheck: Your All-in-One Defense Against Scams

Available for both Android and iOS, Trend Micro ScamCheck offers comprehensive protection from deceptive phishing scams, scam and spam text messages, and more:

• Scam Radar: Stay ahead of scams with early warnings before you’re at risk.
• Scam Check: Instantly analyze emails, texts, URLs, screenshots, and phone numbers with our AI-powered scam detection technology.
• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
• AI Video Scan: Detect face-swapping scams in real-time during video calls, alerting you if anyone is using AI to alter their appearance.
• Web Guard: Surf the web safely, protected from malicious websites and annoying ads.

To download Trend Micro ScamCheck or to learn more, click the button below.

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