Last Updated on May 23, 2020 by ellen
Every year, there’s always one “must-have” toy on most kids’ holiday wish list. The toy sells out fast and becomes expensive and hard to find. This year’s hot pick is the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls and dollhouse. Check out this scam alert and how to stay avoid scams.
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Scam Alert: Looking for This Season’s Hot Toy?
Scammers are using the toy’s popularity to trick parents out of their money.
How the Scam Works:
Every year, there’s always one “must-have” toy on most kids’ holiday wish list. The toy sells out fast and becomes expensive and hard to find. This year’s hot pick is the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls and dollhouse. Scammers are using the toy’s popularity to trick parents out of their money.
How the Scam Works
You are looking for L.O.L. Surprise! toys, but they are sold out at every store you visit. So you decide to look online. A quick search takes you to a page that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site may look professional and have original images of the product. It may even offer the product at discounted prices, claiming a “last-minute deal” or “flash sale.”
Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. People order the toy online, but it never arrives. When they try to follow up with the company, they find that the website lacks working contact information or has disappeared.
BBB Scam Tracker has recently seen an upswing in reports of L.O.L. Surprise! toy scams. Consumers report paying for the product, but never receiving it. One consumer wrote, “I ordered an LOL Bigger Surprise on a website and paid online. I received an email with no tracking number for the order, tried to find a number to call them, but there was no number. I tried to reply to the email receipt and was informed the email did not go through. Now the website doesn’t exist when you click on it!”
Tips to Avoid Toy Scams
Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust.
Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. Unreasonably low prices are a red flag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
Research before you buy. If a company seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with your personal information. Before offering up your name, address, and credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer service number.
For More Information
See BBB.org/ShoppingOnline for more online shopping tips. For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, check out BBB.org/Holiday-Tips.
If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your scam alert report can help others avoid falling victim.
If you see a questionable ad, report it to BBB AdTruth so they can investigate.
Ellen is a mom of a 25-year-old son and 30-year-old daughter. She is Grandma to one adorable toddler. In what little spare time she has, she loves to read, watch movies, and check out the latest toys and games.