(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned to start their holiday shopping early due to shortages and long wait times for products, but now they’re also being warned to be careful how they’re going about finding gifts. Bao Vang, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says scammers are ready to take advantage, especially if you’re ordering something online.

“Thirty-five percent of scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2021 so far are online purchase scams,” Vang says, “and they have been the riskiest scams for the last two or three years.” Vang says the bureau’s Scam Tracker shows each person who fell victim to an online scam lost more than a hundred dollars on average.

“Seventy-five percent of those who report scams related to online shopping lose money,” she says. “The largest demographic being targeted are people ages 18 to 24-years-old.” Vang says consumers should protect themselves by doing their research, watching out for deals that appear too good to be true, and anytime you’re paying with a credit card.

On the web at: BBB.org/scamtracker