ELLEN MARKS: 'Discreet' shipping means it may never show up

Ever hear of a “discreet shipping” fee? It’s the latest scam to hit the online shopping market, just as the holiday season is underway.

The fee is charged when shoppers order something on a fake website. It supposedly pays for special packaging or stamps, according to the Better Business Bureau.

For example, the BBB has gotten “multiple reports” about the fee when consumers purchased diet pills, vaping products, ammunition, CBD edibles or other similar products. In some cases, the extra charge was unveiled when shoppers marked an online purchase as a gift, or when they were told that “discreet package stamps” would keep their items from having to go through customs.

Scammers raise the issue of the fee after you have paid but before the package is delivered. Typically, they’ll want the payment made through a digital app such as Zelle or CashApp.

“If you use an app to pay, you probably won’t be able to recover your funds when you realize the business is a sham,” the BBB says.

The bottom-line rule this time of year is to watch for fake websites that either mimic real companies or fabricate fake ones.

“They may post fake ads for things on social media or other websites, and even use a real company’s logo to try to seem legit,” the FTC says. “But then they take your money, and don’t send what you ordered.”

For example, Lululemon, the athletic apparel company, warns shoppers that fake websites are creating confusion by using such words as “lulu” or “lulus” in their domain name. The bogus sites also copy the company’s design or layout and make the appearance look legitimate, the company says.

Here are ways to protect yourself:

— Pay by credit card. If you’re charged twice, billed for something you never got, or get a wrong or damaged item, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.

— Check out the business. Before you buy, search online by entering its name, along with words like “scam” or “fraud” to see whether others have had problems.

— Maintain records. Know the company’s name and website and save any receipts or bank statements showing what you paid, and when they said they’d ship your item.

— Know that sellers have to ship within the time that they, or their ads, promise, according to the FTC. If they don’t give a time, they must ship within 30 days of when you placed the order. And if there’s a delay, the seller must tell you and give you the choice of agreeing to the delay or canceling your order with a full refund.

— Check the “About Us” or “Contact Us” section on the website to see what sort of contact details are provided. Be wary if the only method of contact is through a form, the BBB says.

— Social media sites are filled with fake ads this time of year. The FTC says the most frequently reported loss in the first half of 2023 was from people who tried to buy something marketed on social media, at 44% of all social media fraud reports. Most were about undelivered goods, particularly clothing and electronics, the FTC says.

Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210, prompt 5. Complaints can be filed electronically at nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/