BBB advisory: Navigating back-to-school deals amid scammers’ paradise

Steve Bernas

Many consumers plan their back-to-school shopping around retail holidays, Prime Days and Labor Day sales.

As a proactive measure, that’s a great plan, especially if your goal is to outwit the scammers. However, the Better Business Bureau warns parents still need to be cautious while spending their hard-earned dollars.

“It’s a short window that parents have between vacations, and jobs, and getting the needed shopping done to prepare their kids for the new school year,” said Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “Scammers make it their business to follow those dates, so they are prepared for the opportunity to rip off parents.”

Back-to-school and college spending is a pot of gold for scammers. The National Retail Federation projects spending will reach more than $81 billion this year. That figure is only slightly higher than last year.

Most spending will include clothing and accessories, shoes, school supplies, electronics and computer-related equipment.

“In Illinois, there is no reduced sales tax on school-related purchases,” Bernas said. “Beware of offers that claim to be able to provide that.”

BBB offers advice to help shoppers obtain the best deals and avoid getting ripped off:

• Research big-ticket items: Whether your children are learning in-person at school or online from home, technology has come to the forefront in recent years. When buying new equipment, check with your child’s school to learn about any technical requirements.

• Before purchasing an expensive laptop, tablet, or other computer accessories, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews, and prices of various stores for the best deal. Be sure to look up the retailer’s reputation on BBB.org.

• Finish your shopping early. Shop now to avoid paying higher prices or encountering a last-minute scam.

• Shop with familiar retailers. Laptops, tablets, or other tech accessories can be a significant investment. Shop with businesses you know and trust to ensure you’re getting a quality product and good customer service.

• Don’t buy from impostors. Fraudsters may use the name, logo, and other characteristics of brands you trust. Closely examine the website to verify that they are who they say they are.

• Approach low prices with caution. Low prices and short-term sales could be a sign you’ve encountered a scam. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• When shopping online, be wary of “clickbait” ads, which feature items that imply you may want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a different website to potentially steal personal information.

• Ask for a discount. Many stores and software companies offer discounts. Some are available to students with either a “.edu” email address or a student ID.

• Deal with secure websites. These will begin with “HTTPS” and have a “lock” symbol on the address bar.

Additionally, the BBB has more help for parents on its back to school shopping hub.

If you have experienced a scam, even if you didn’t lose money, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Sign up for BBB’s free consumer newsletter, BBB Edge, at BBB.org/ChicagoBuzz. Visit BBB.org or follow us @ChicagoBBB on social media.

• Steve J. Bernas is president and CEO of BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois.