Holiday Toy Scams Surge, BBB Warns Local Shoppers

The Better Business Bureau alerted consumers on November 22, 2025 that fraudsters are exploiting demand for popular holiday toys and other impulse purchases by using fake storefronts, counterfeit product listings, phishing emails, spoofed social media posts and offers that appear in stock but vanish after payment. The warning arrives as many Holmes County residents begin heavier online shopping for the holidays, increasing the risk that impulse buys will lead to financial loss or identity theft.

Scammers are targeting convenience and urgency. Common red flags cited by the BBB include non secure checkout pages, requests for payment by gift card or wire transfer, and deals that seem too good to be true. The advisory stressed that transactions requiring these forms of payment are often difficult to reverse, and that insecure sites can expose personal financial information.

Local consumers can take practical steps to reduce risk. The BBB recommends shopping through reputable retailers, verifying seller ratings and reviews, and using a credit card to take advantage of chargeback protections. Shoppers should confirm return policies before buying, preserve receipts and all communications with sellers, and carefully check package tracking details to spot suspicious routing or delivery notes. If a sale occurs on a third party marketplace, checking the seller history and buyer protections for that platform can make a material difference in the ability to recover funds.

For Holmes County households that fall victim to fraud, the BBB points to resources for reporting and recovery including the BBB Scam Tracker, state attorney general consumer complaint offices, the Federal Trade Commission, local law enforcement, and contacting banks or card issuers immediately to request holds or chargebacks. The economic impact is not just individual loss. Widespread scams can erode trust in online channels that local retailers rely on during the crucial holiday season, and they can impose administrative costs on banks and law enforcement. Residents who shop thoughtfully and report suspicious activity help protect both their finances and the wider local economy.