'Seems too good to be true, it probably is': BBB warns shoppers to be aware of Cyber Monday scams

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For those that like to do their holiday shopping from the comfort of your own home, Cyber Monday is the day for you.

Considered the second busiest shopping day next to Black Friday, the National Retail Federation predicts over 71-million shoppers to take advantage of the Cyber Monday deals. It's a big day for shoppers and can be a big opportunity for online scammers, too.

"The number one most reported scams to our BBB Scam Tracker for the last three years in a row was online shopping," explained Lisa Schiller with the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin. "It does have its risks."

Schiller says scammers can get creative and will make fake online websites that are similar to trusted products to make customers feel like they are legitimate, only to take their money and not deliver the expected product.

"I spend my days receiving submissions to BBB Scam Tracker from Wisconsinites about fake online websites and items they believe they purchased from what they thought was a legitimate seller and they never receive the items at all," Schiller said. "Or they receive something completely different. It's really a variety of different things. A lot of risks involved."

Along with fake websites, Schiller says a lot of reports come from advertisements that consumers found on social media. She encourages people to make sure they are reviewing the company and the website closely before clicking the checkout button.

Pay very close attention to the name. At first glance, it could appear to belong to a trusted retailer, but one letter could be off," Schiller said. "If a company sells the hottest item of the year at a really great price, seems too good to be true, it probably is."

For more information on the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin and the resources provided, visit the bureau's website here.